UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT   LOS  ANGELES 


ROBERT  ERNEST  COWAN 


SO    CZEHSTTS 


rrrTTTiTTn 


£ ±1 


2ERALTHA 


BY 


ABEL    A\.    RAWSON 


1182 

THE   AUTHORS'    ASSOCIATION 

NEW  YORK  and  SAN  FRANCISCO 

1893 


SAX  CARLOS    I/O 9 


ROBERT  ERNEST  COWAN 


BY 


ABEL  M.  RAWSON 

Author  of"TheJtmior  Partners" 


PUBLISHED   BY 

AUTHORS'  ASSOCIATION 

NEW   YORK   AND   SAN   FRANCISCO 


1893 


Copyright,  1893,  by 
DELIA    B.  RAWSON 

ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED 


Cavil  not,  ye  sticklers  for  the  formulary  of  probability. 

Above  your  plane  and  beyond  your  ken  lies  the  realm  of 

'  the  Incredible,  touching  the  precincts  of  Impossibility,  yet 

^  In  it  men  and  women  abide,  invisible  to  your  dull  search. 


302061 


CHAPTER  I. 

GIRL,  twenty  years  of  age,  stood  upon 
an  open  sandy  space  near  the  summit 
of  a  hill  that  withdrew  from  the  base 
of  Twin  Peaks.  After  a  long  survey  of  that 
part  of  San  Francisco  which  is  known  as  "  The 
Mission,"  she  turned  and  looked  over  the  eleva 
tion  behind  her,  as  if  in  search  of  an  expected 
object.  In  that  direction  lay  the  mouth  of  a 
glen  which  had  been  formed  in  an  unfinished 
attempt  to  cut  a  street  through  a  hill,  and  from 
a  cottage  in  the  glen  issued  the  tall,  muscular 
form  of  a  negress. 

She  passed  between  the  moss-covered  rocks  at 
the  entrance  of  the  glen,  appearing  suddenly  to 
the  full  view  of  the  girl  upon  the  sand  knoll, 
who,  as  though  frightened,  started  rapidly  down 
the  hill.  Then,  stopping  suddenly,  she  turned, 
and  retraced  her  steps.  The  look  of  unconcern 
which  the  girl  had  forced  upon  her  face  had  no 
effect  upon  the  negress,  who  now  ran  to  meet 


6  SEBALTHA. 

her  with  eccentric  gesticulations  of  delight, 
exclaiming: 

"Here's  mah  Honey!  Lah!  lah!  Lemme 
feel  yoh  hands!  Come  toh  dah  house  wiv  me. 
Nuffin  gwine  toh  hurt  yoh  in  Lethe  St.  Pier's 
house." 

The  girl  drew  away  from  her  with  gestures  of 
dissent,  and  again  sat  upon  the  sand  knoll, 
where  she  nervously  toyed  with  the  jointed 
handle  of  her  parasol,  and  looked  out  toward 
the  pall  of  smoke  upon  the  bay.  Lethe  stood 
awhile  in  deliberation,  and  then,  approaching 
her,  spoke  with  language  free  from  dialect. 

"  Child,  you  want  a  good  fortune,  but  you 
will  not  go  into  the  house  where  the  spirits 
come  to  tell  you  of  it.  I  wonder  they  don't 
refuse  to  show  me  the  way  for  you  to  act.  I 
suppose  it  is  because  your  fortune  is  so  near, 
and  so  easy  for  you  to  take,  that  you  would  find 
it  without  any  help,  and  they  only  speak  to  me 
about  you  because  I  have  known  them  so  long. 
They  know  that  I  have  loved  you  ever  since  the 
day  that  you  told  me  you  did  not  like  common 


SEBALTHA.  < 

things  and  would  not  marry  any  man  in  "The 
Mission."  There  is  something  in  me  that  feels 
just  as  you  spoke.  I  don't  know  how  it  came 
there,  for  I  am  very  black.  Maybe  my  soul  is 
shaped  right,  as  my  face  is,  and  don't  have  any 
black  on  it,  as  my  face  has." 

Lethe  laughed  outright  at  this  conceit.  The 
girl  looked  into  her  face,  and  smiled  in  response. 
Thus  encouraged,  Lethe  sat  upon  the  sand  knoll, 
and  resumed  her  speech: 

"  I  love  you,  child,  and  I  don't  blame  you  be 
cause  you  would  never  come  to  my  house  again 
after  you  came  once.  It  is  not  because  you 
don't  like  me,  or  because  you  are  afraid.  You 
are  nervous.  That  is  what  the  doctor  would 
say  if  he  could  see  you  sometimes — 'specially 
sometimes — and  it  is  not  your  fault.  I  am 
going  to  tell  you  what  the  spirits  told  me  about 
your  good  fortune,  right  here — if  you  won't 
come  to  my  house.  When  I  tell  you  what  the 
spirits  said  I  know  you  will  come  to  my  house 
on  Pine  street.  Did  the  letter  tell  you  about 
the  house?" 


SEKALTHA. 


The  girl  nodded  assent,  and,  taking  a  letter 
from  her  pocket,  she  opened  it  and  read.  When 
she  had  ceased  her  reading,  Lethe  continued : 

"There  will  be  no  owls  there,  where  you  can 
see  them,  nor  any  snakes,  nor  any  boxes  that 
look  like  coffins,  nor  anything  to  make  you 
nervous,  but  everything  to  make  you  happy, 
until — until — but  I  will  tell  you  what  the  spirits 
said  last  night.  They  said — 'Her  fortune  is 
near,  so  that  she  can  reach  out  her  hand  and 
take  it.  A  very  rich  man  is  coming  toward  her. 
He  has  never  loved.  She  must  accept  an  invi 
tation  that  he  gives  her.  If  she  does  she  will 
be  happy,  for  he  will  take  her  away  from  "  The 
Mission,"  and  give  her  what  she  longs  for.' 
Then  they  went  away." 

"But  I  do  not  wish  one  to  give  me  anything," 
said  the  girl,  "  unless  he  will  take  me — unless 
he  will  make  me  his  wife;  then  I  would  love 
him.  I  long  to  live  in  elegance,  and — and — I 
want  to  get  out  of  '  The  Mission/  but  I  want 
to  do  it  rightly." 

Bitter  tones  mingled  with  these   sentences. 


SERALTHA.  9 

The  girl  looked  into  the  face  of  her  companion, 
who  stroked  her  hand  and  said: 

"  A  man  will  do  right  by  a  girl  if  he  loves 
her.  You  must  make  him  love  you.  You  must 
show  him  that  you  can  love  with  your  whole 
soul.  A  man  worships  a  woman  who  does  that 
way." 

"  I  have  been  taught,"  said  the  girl,  "  that  I 
should  be  reserved,  and  that  when  a  man  meets 
me  who  loves  me  he  will  approach  and  win  my 
love." 

"  If  you  do  that,  nobody  will  come  to  you, 
'cept  the  men  who  live  down  there,"  responded 
Lethe,  pointing  toward  "  The  Mission."  "  You 
can't  find  elegance  there.  It's  yonder,  on  the 
hills,  or  over  there  in  the  big  hotels." 

The  blue  in  the  eyes  of  the  girl  deepened  to 
violet  shades  as  they  followed  the  indications  of 
Lethe's  finger,  and  her  sight  lingered  upon  the 
hills,  while  she  continued: 

"  If  you  get  there,  you've  got  to  do  your  best. 
I  know  young  married  women  who  were  once  as 
poor  as  you  are,  and  who  now  have  got  servants, 


10  SEEALTHA. 

silks  and  diamonds,  but  they  didn't  hide  them 
selves  away  in  "The  Mission"  or  in  any  such 
place,  when  they  were  girls,  but  got  into  society 
in  some  way— I  think,  by  the  way  that  a  society 
lady,  I  know,  calls  *  getting  into  the  edges  of  it.' ' 

"What  does  she  mean  by  that  expression?" 
the  girl  asked. 

"  She  means  just  what  you  can  do  now.  He 
can  take  you  there,  and  there  you  can  do  the 
rest.  You  are  beautiful.  Men  love  beauty — 
marry  for  it,  die  for  it.  Will  you  accept? 
Will  you  go?" 

The  girl  hesitated,  and  looked  down  upon 
"The  Mission,"  then  again  to  the  hills.  She 
opened  her  parasol  and  raised  it  over  her  head 
although  the  sun  was  out  of  sight  behind  the 
Peaks.  Several  moments  passed,  during  which 
time  Lethe  did  not  speak,  and  the  girl  sat  rigidly 
upright  gazing  toward  the  western  hills. 

The  parasol  slowly  lowered,  and,  falling  from 
her  hand,  it  rolled  down  the  slope  of  the  sand 
knoll.  The  face  that  turned  to  answer  Lethe's 
questions  had  become  ashen,  and  the  words  that 


SEBALTHA.  11 

came  to  her  ears  seemed  as  if  uttered  by  one  far 
away : 

"  I  will  accept." 

Lethe  caught  her  hands  and  excitedly  spoke 
sentences  of  approval  in  the  dialect  of  the  Plan 
tation;  but  t  the  girl  withdrew  from  her,  and, 
arising,  walked  a  short  distance  away.  Lethe 
followed,  and  after  a  few  words,  to  which  the 
girl  gave  assent,  she  went  to  the  glen  and  dis 
appeared  behind  the  rocks  guarding  its  entrance. 

The  girl  returned  to  the  knoll  and  raised  her 
parasol  from  the  sand.  Closing  it,  she  looked 
out  over  the  city,  from  the  westward  hills  to  the 
bay,  as  if  to  make  a  parting  survey.  An  Ameri 
can  flag  floated  above  the  pall  of  smoke  that 
covered  the  waters  of  the  bay,  unfurled  from  a 
mast  upon  a  distant  island  and  full  lighted  by 
the  rays  of  the  setting  sun  shining  through  a 
cleft  in  the  westward  hills.  Scarcely  was  her 
attention  fixed  upon  it  when  the  rays  gradu 
ally  crept  upward  from  stripe  to  stripe,  leaving 
a  dark  patch  lying  in  relief  against  the  heights 
beyond.  This  suddenly  fell  into  the  pall  below, 


12  SEBALTHA. 

and  a  gun  on  Alcatraz  sent  its  echoes  over  the 
hills  toward  the  departed  day. 

Awhile  she  looked  thoughtfully  at  the  point 
where  the  flag  had  waved,  then  downward  where 
her  right  foot  moved  about  in  involuntary 
action,  smoothing  the  sand.  To  this,  which  was 
of  a  nervous  character,  she  soon  gave  attention, 
and  continued  to  level  the  sand  until  she  had 
prepared  a  narrow  strip  extending  from  the 
place  where  she  had  been  standing  to  the  base 
of  the  sand  knoll.  With  the  point  of  her 
parasol  she  wrote  upon  it  two  names,  one  above 
another.  She  then  looked  upon  the  writing 
long  and  thoughtfully. 

Twilight  had  dimmed  the  outlines  of  the  hills 
when  she  was  aroused  from  her  meditation  by 
drifts  of  evening  mist  floating  against  her  from 
the  heights  above.  She  hastily  drew  the  point 
of  her  parasol  through  the  upper  name,  leaving 
the  other — SERALTHA  AMES — and  walked  slowly 
down  the  hill. 

The  glistening  cataract  of  sun-tipped  fog  that 
had  poured  over  the  Twin  Peaks  when  she 


SEKALTHA.  13 

ascended  the  slope  was  now  a  gray  flood,  filling 
the  valleys  and  hiding  the  city.  The  old  bells 
of  the  Mission  Dolores  were  sending  their 
mellow  tones  abroad,  sounding  for  vespers. 
"  Hail,  Mary,  full  of  grace!"  "Blessed  art  thou 
among  women,"  arose  from  many  lips  in  the 
homes  below. 

The  girl  kept  on  her  way  in  silence. 


CHAPTER  II. 

SLTHOUGH  the  face  and  form  of  Seraltha 
Ames  were  of  uncommon  beauty,  her 
apparel  would  receive  the  first  notice 
from  a  critical  observer — not  because  of  har 
mony  with  her  person,  but  for  the  reason  that 
the  style  and  trimmings  were  of  recent  fashion 
while  the  material  was  out  of  date.  Strips  of 
new,  gray-fox  fur  about  the  collar  and  along  the 
front  of  her  half-length  cloak  showed  in  contrast 
to  the  other  material,  which  had  yielded  gloss 
to  .time  and  service,  and  her  gown  displayed 
new  braids  and  laces  upon  its  much-worn  brown 
surface.  A  brown  velvet  turban,  adorned  with 
a  gray  plume;  new  kid  gloves,  matching  in 
shade  the  fox-fur  of  her  cloak;  well-fitted,  fash 
ionable  shoes,  covering  a  shapely  foot,  and  a 
steel-gray  veil,  completed  the  visible  portion  of 
her  apparel.  She  had  raised  the  veil  from  her 
face  and  caught  it  in  graceful  arrangement 
against  her  hat  and  over  thick  coils  of  light 

(14) 


SEBALTHA.  15 

brown  hair  that  fell  to  the  fur-trimmed  collar 
in  stylish  plaits. 

Her  tall  form  showed  that  muscular  symmetry 
which  enchains  the  admiration  of  ardent  man 
hood,  and  which  is  frequent  among  women 
whose  maternal  ancestors  were  engaged  in  man 
ual  labor,  but  who  themselves  are  accustomed 
to  light  physical  or  intellectual  employments. 
Her  shoulders  spread  slightly  beyond  the  sculp 
tor's  lines  of  beauty,  and  her  low,  firm  bust 
suggested  a  sinewy  development.  Her  long 
waist,  shapely  without  the  aid  of  stays,  met  a 
lower  form  that  moved  with  firmness  and  grace. 

Her  features  showed  the  strong  jaw  of  the 
Gael,  modified  by  the  oval  of  Latin  forefathers; 
a  low,  broad  forehead  upon  a  perfect  angle  with 
a  thin  nose  that  was  slightly  aquiline,  and 
heavy,  arched  brows  over  eyes  set  deep  and  well 
apart.  Her  marble  complexion  expressed  deter 
mination,  and  was  relieved  in  color  by  full, 
scarlet  lips,  and  dark  blue  eyes  that  unclosed 
violet  depths  when  she  became  interested  in 
observation  or  conversation. 


16  SEBALTHA. 

A  cottage  home,  the  only  estate  of  her 
widowed  mother,  showed  to  her  view,  and  her 
sight  rested  there  after  a  sweeping  over  the 
streets  and  squares  spreading  from  it.  Little 
of  beauty  lent  attractiveness  to  its  neighbor 
hood,  except  the  ever-living  foliage  that  nature 
spreads  profusely  toward  the  constant  sun  of 
Californian  skies;  but  much  of  commonplace 
utility  prevailed.  Wooden  houses  of  square 
facade,  and  cheaply  built,  overlooked  the  streets, 
their  monotony  being  broken  by  factories, 
stables  and  other  evidences  of  the  presence  of 
labor.  Grammar-schools  reared  their  severe 
architecture  above  flat  roofs.  Infrequent 
churches  rested  in  quiet  amidst  the  turmoil  of 
industry,  all  unpretentious,  except  one — that  of 
the  Mission  Dolores — and  this  conspicuous  only 
from  the  aid  of  the  convent  and  the  schools. 

The  missionary  founders  called  their  home 
Mission  Dolores,  when  sands  shifted  their 
drifts  along  the  places  where  a  city  now  stands ; 
and  they  delved  there  for  the  wealth  of  souls 
when  the  wealth  of  the  mountains  beyond  them 


SEBALTHA.  17 

was  unknown.  The  magic  of  gold  spread  a  city 
before  them  that  enclosed  the  boundaries  of 
their  possessions,  and  their  presence  gave  name 
to  the  section  about  them. 

This  section  is  known  as  "  The  Mission." 
With  limits  undefined  it  stretches  away  from 
the  Mission  Dolores  in  denser  habitations  as  it 
blends  with  the  city  northward.  Upon  the 
south  are  bunched  neighborhoods  isolated  by 
sandy  or  rocky  openings.  "  The  Mission  "  has 
a  character,  a  positive  individuality.  It  is 
the  "  man  of  all  work  "  in  the  household  of  San 
Francisco. 

An  expression  of  sinister  triumph  lighted  the 
face  of  Lethe  St.  Pier  as  she  watched  the  form 
of  the  girl  disappearing  in  the  mists  of  "  The 
Mission,"  and  it  shone  through  the  Senegambian 
ebon  that  seemed  to  veil  her  features.  Lighter 
patches  covering  her  cheek  bones  appeared  with 
greater  distinctness,  and  indications  of  a  supe 
rior  blood  in  her  veins  were  manifest  in  her 
glance.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  iris  of  her 
eyes,  which  reflected  midnight  over  their  white 


18  SEKALTHA. 

boundaries,  her  color  would  have  seemed  arti 
ficial. 

She  was  born  of  a  slave  mother  on  a  sugar 
plantation  in  one  of  the  lower  parishes  of 
Louisiana,  and  an  early  life  in  the  fields  had 
developed  her  into  a  muscular  machine,  with 
the  capability  of  a  slave  man.  Plantation  tra 
dition  had  connected  her  paternity  with  the 
name  of  an  eminent  planter-politician.  As  a 
soldier  he  fell  in  battle  in  Mexico,  and  when 
Lethe  was  fourteen  she  was  taken  to  New  Or 
leans  and  placed  in  service  in  the  family  of  a 
physician.  Here  she  was  taught  the  art  of 
nursing  women;  but  her  hours  of  recreation 
were  spent  in  circles  of  negro  superstition — the 
voodoos,  the  fortune-tellers,  and,  later,  among 
the  devotees  of  higher  credulities — the  solvers 
of  dream-puzzles  and  the  subjects  of  spirit  hal 
lucinations.  Fearless  from  inheritance,  she  had 
gathered  from  the  dissecting  rooms,  the  ceme 
teries  and  the  bayous,  grim  symbols  of  the 
mystic  universe. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-five  she  was  taken  to 


SEKALTHA.  19 

San  Francisco,  where  she  was  left,  and  where 
she  resumed  her  occupation  of  nurse,  varied 
with  fortune-telling,  match-making  in  the  inter 
est  of  ambitious  girls,  and,  likely,  darker  work 
for  rich  men  who  knew  of  her  intelligence  and 
discretion.  After  two  years  she  disappeared 
from  her  usual  haunts  and  was  not  accessible  to 
many;  it  was  when  she  removed  to  the  glen 
in  the  hills.  Here  her  visitors  were  few,  but 
were  of  high  quality,  and  they  came  generally 
at  night. 

Through  association  with  persons  of  refine 
ment  she  had  acquired  a  fair  command  of  the 
English  language,  but  when  under  the  influence 
of  emotion  the  accent  of  the  parish  Plantation 
would  prevail.  Though  childless,  she  gave  the 
love  of  a  mother  to  selected  objects  of  the  supe 
rior  race. 

She  turned  toward  the  glen,  her  turban  of 
intertwined  handkerchiefs,  (one  red  and  the 
other  black,)  showing  sombre  in  the  gathering 
shadows.  At  the  closed  end  of  the  artificial 
glen  stood  Lethe's  hut — long,  low  and  rudely 


20  SERALTHA. 

constructed,  and  lighted  by  small  windows  cut 
close  under  the  eaves.  There  were  three  apart 
ments.  The  sole  entrance  to  the  hut  faced  the 
opening  of  the  glen  and  admitted  to  a  kitchen 
whose  simple  furnishings  rested  on  a  clean  rock 
floor. 

A  stuffed  owl,  suspended  near  the  roof,  first 
drew  the  attention  of  the  visitor  by  his  start 
ling  appearance  and  position.  With  neck  out 
stretched  and  wings  half  spread,  he  seemed 
about  to  pounce  upon  some  object  below  him. 
His  staring  eyes — adjusted  obliquely  by  a  care 
less  taxidermist — glistened  with  an  uncertain 
aim  that  brought  greater  discomfort  to  a  timid 
observer  than  would  a  well-defined  intention; 
and  the  winds  that  swept  down  from  the  Peaks 
and,  penetrating  the  hut,  ruffled  his  feathers, 
gave  him  an  ominous  animation. 

Articles  of  household  comfort  crowded  the 
second  apartment,  among  them  a  tall  chiffonier 
near  a  corner,  which  concealed  the  entrance  to 
the  third  room.  In  this  latter  apartment  as  in 
the  second,  was  a  canvas  ceiling,  and,  occupying 


SERALTHA.  21 

a  position  like  that  of  the  owl  in  the  first  room, 
a  large  stuffed  serpent  hung  suspended  from  the 
canvas  by  almost  invisible  threads.  Its  color 
was  a  dingy  and  mottled  brown,  and  it  belonged 
to  a  species  common  in  the  Southern  States.  It 
hung  coiled  and  head  downward,  as  though 
about  to  spring  upon  its  victim,  the  head  sway 
ing  gently  with  the  moving  of  the  canvas  by 
the  wind. 

During  early  morning  hours  strollers  about 
the  hills  had  obtained  occasional  glimpses 
through  the  open  door  of  the  hut,  and  had 
noticed  a  man  who  sat  upon  one  of  the  wooden 
stools  of  the  kitchen,  or  lounged  upon  a  long, 
coffin-shaped  box  that  lay  upon  the  floor.  One 
stroller  had  secured  a  full  view  of  him  as  he  sat 
near  the  door,  and  afterwards  told  his  neighbors 
in  "  The  Mission  "  that  this  man  had  constantly 
held  a  sponge  in  his  mouth,  except  that  some 
times  he  would  moisten  it  in  water,  and,  when 
replaced,  one-half  of  it  would  protrude  from  his 
mouth. 


CHAPTER  III. 

hour  later  a  carriage  halted  at  the  foot 
of  the  hill  into  which  the  glen  pene 
trated.  A  man  alighted  from  it  who  sat  upon 
the  driver's  seat,  carefully  taking  with  him  a 
heavy  parcel,  and  with  difficulty  he  opened  the 
door  of  the  carriage,  still  holding  the  parcel. 
After  the  single  occupant  had  stepped  from  the 
carriage  the  man  placed  the  parcel  upon  a  seat 
within  it.  Withdrawing  a  short  distance,  the 
two  engaged  in  conversation.  A  few  moments 
afterward  the  inside  passenger  walked  up  the 
hill.  The  one  who  rode  on  the  outside  tied  the 
horses  to  a  tree.  While  ascending  the  upper 
slope  of  the  hill  the  inside  passenger  lost  his 
direction  in  the  darkness  and  stumbled  upon 
the  sand  knoll,  his  hands  plunging  deeply  into 
it.  His  right  hand  grasped  an  object,  lightly 
covered  beneath  its  surface.  When  he  arose,  he 
held  that  in  his  hand  which  he  had  grasped 
when  he  fell.  After  brushing  the  sand  from 

(22) 


8EBALTHA.  23 

his  garments,  he  placed  the  object  in  an  outside 
pocket  of  his  overcoat.  Shuffling  around  the 
sand  knoll  he  continued  his  walk  to  the  glen, 
and  groped  his  way  through  its  denser  dark 
ness  until  he  arrived  at  the  door  of  the  hut. 
He  stood  awhile  in  an  attitude  of  listening,  and, 
hearing  no  voices  within,  he  rapped  upon  the 
door. 

After  a  short  interval  Lethe  St.  Pier  opened 
the  door  and  led  him  through  the  first  apart 
ment  into  the  second,  which  was  dimly  lighted 
by  an  oil  lamp  standing  upon  the  dresser,  its 
chimney  supporting  a  shade  of  purple  porce 
lain.  She  asked  him  to  be  seated  in  one  of  the 
easy  chairs,  taking  the  other  for  her  own  use. 

Her  visitor  was  Chalmer  Grose,  President  of 
the  Sierra  Nevada  Mining  Association. 

In  its  earlier  existence,  although  the  officers 
made  frequent  purchases  of  ranches,  business 
lots  upon  central  streets  and  promising  mining 
properties,  besides  building  many  structures, 
the  S.  N.  M.  A.  was  (as  the  President  habitually 
said  regarding  it)  "  in  hard  luck." 


24  SERALTHA. 

Various  unfortunate  and  unforeseen  happen 
ings  in  the  various  mines  under  its  control 
made  necessary  many  assessments  that  affected 
the  purse  and  the  patience  of  the  heavier  out 
side  stockholders,  who,  after  a  season  of  hope 
succeeded  by  despair,  had  put  their  stock  upon 
open  market,  ^This  action  alarmed  the  multi 
tude  of  small  holders  who  hastened  to  follow 
their  example. 

The  officers  of  the  Association,  seemingly, 
had  faith  in  the  future  prosperity  of  its  affairs, 
because  some  of  the  members  continued  to  pur 
chase  stock  all  the  way  down  the  decline  that 
followed,  and  at  the  bottom  of  its  public  valua 
tion  they  took  all  that  their  brokers  could  find 
upon  sale.  That  the  faith  of  the  officers  was 
well  founded  soon  afterward  became  evident. 
The  mines  began  to  develop  dazzling  possibili 
ties.  In  one  a  drift  became  richer  upon  an 
extended  opening ;  in  another  a  pocket  expanded 
like  an  inverted  balloon,  and  in  others  bonanzas 
appeared — ore  everywhere,  in  unheard-of  quan 
tity,  in  piles  and  masses. 


SEEALTHA.  25 

S.  N.  M.  A.  stock  advanced  several  tnousand 
points.  The  public  was  allowed  an  inning,  of 
which  the  record  showed  an  unbroken  score  of 
errors,  indicating  a  transfer  of  the  former  "hard 
luck  "  of  the  Association  to  the  unskillful  out 
siders.  Thereafter,  the  value  of  S.  N.  M.  A. 
stock  depended  wholly  upon  the  purposes  of  its 
officers. 

Favored  by  these  conditions,  Chalmer  Grose 
made  much  profit,  and  engaged  in  investments 
and  enjoyments.  He  was  middle-aged,  unmar 
ried  and  small  of  stature.  His  movements  were 
suggestive  of  that  very  common  word,  wiry. 
This  quality  governed  His  speech,  being  mani 
fested  in  epigrammatic  sentences,  to  which  the 
wiry  muscles  of  his  face  moved  in  emphasis. 
Short,  iron-gray  hair  covered  his  head,  which 
inclined  to  a  stiff  coarseness,  and  met  strips  of 
side-whisker  standing  in  relief  upon  his  other 
wise  clean-shaved  face.  His  small,  sharp,  grey 
eyes,  his  thin  nose,  thin  lips,  strong  jaw,  and 
large  chin,  indicated  much  determination,  and 
something  of  the  baser  qualities. 


26  SEEALTHA. 

Both  occupants  of  the  second  apartment  in 
the  hut  had  remained  silent,  until  Chalmer 
Grose  hecame  uneasy  in  his  chair,  and  had 
several  times  shifted  his  position,  when  he 
impatiently  said: 

"Well,  Mamma  St.  Pier,  what  is  your  answer?" 

"  She  says,  yes." 

"  How  about  her  preparations  ?  " 

"  They  will  he  made  in  the  Pine  street  house. 
I  shall  move  there  to-morrow.' 

He  reflected  awhile,  and  then  said: 

"  You  are  to  hold  it  five  years?  " 

"  Yes,  sir;  and  everything  that  is  in  it." 

"Yes;  that  was  the  agreement." 

"  That  is  not  all,  Chalmer  Grose." 

"  A  visitor  will  call  upon  you."  He  reflected 
again,  and  added:  "He  will  call  again  at  a 
future  time,  if  you  fail  in  your  work."  He 
looked  at  her  significantly. 

As  if  a  knowledge  of  his  power  had  suddenly 
come  to  her,  showing  that  she  might  be  made  a 
subject  to  it,  the  brave  heart  of  Lethe  St.  Pier 


SEEALTHA. 


27 


felt  its  first  quailings  cf  fear.  She  responded  to 
him  in  the  language  of  her  childhood: 

"  I'se  alias  gwine  toh  do  foh  yoh.  Don't  yoh 
knowdat?" 

"  If  you  don't  fail,  Mamma  St.  Pier,  I  am  a 
good  friend  to  you." 

"  I'se  nebber  gwine  toh  fail  yoh." 

"  She  will  be  ready  on  time?  " 

"Yes,  sah." 

"  The  reception  is  next  Wednesday  evening — 
just  a  week." 

"  Yes,  sir."  Fear  had  quickly  fled  from  its 
unaccustomed  place. 

"The  special  train  for  Monterey  leaves  Third 
and  Townsend  streets  at  noon." 

"  Shall  she  meet  you  there?  " 

"  I  will  call  at  the  Pine  Street  house  at  eleven." 

"  She  will  be  waiting  for  you." 

"  The  handsomest  woman  at  the  reception ! " 
exclaimed  Chalmer  Grose,  the  wiry  muscles  of 
his  face  drawing  into  lines  of  satisfaction. 
"  And  the  receptions  of  the  Second  Regiment 
draw  the  finest.  Pretty  name,  too — Seraltha." 


28  SEBALTHA. 

"  She  is  a  perfect  lady,  besides  being  hand 
some,"  said  Lethe. 

He  made  no  answer  to  this  assertion,  but  the 
lines  of  satisfaction  upon  his  face  seemed  to 
extend  throughout  his  body,  moving  his  muscles 
and  causing  his  hands  to  caress  each  other. 

"  She  has  been  away  from  home,"  continued 
Lethe,  "  at  school,  at  Santa  Rosa,  and  she  lived 
there  with  a  good  family.  She  was  company 
for  the  lady,  who  is  sick,  and  she  got  used  to 
nice  ways.  When  she  got  through  school — it 
was  a  seminary — and  came  home,  she  could  not 
seem  to  like  the  people  in  "The  Mission,"  espe 
cially  the  young  men,  though  she  had  played 
with  them  when  she  was  a  child,  and  they 
wanted  to  show  her  attention.  Her  mother's 
house  is  small  and  has  poor  furniture,  while  the 
one  at  Santa  Rosa  is  large,  and  has  fine  grounds 
all  around  it,  and  fine  furniture  in  every  room. 
She  is  afraid  that  if  she  marries  any  young  man 
who  works  for  wages,  she  will  live  in  the  same 
way  her  mother  does,  and  she  dreads  that  more." 
"  Good  surface  indications,"  interrupted  Chal- 


SEBALTHA.  29 

mer  Grose,  who  was  giving  eager  attention  to 
Lethe's  words,  and  whose  hands  had  not  yet 
ceased  their  mutual  caresses. 

"Of  what,  sir?" 

"  Of  satisfactory  results.  Go  on,  Mamma  St. 
Pier." 

"  And  she  dreads  that  more  than  nursing  in 
rich  families,  or  teaching  school,  or  " — 

"  Pooh !  pooh  I  Does  she  never  think  of  any 
thing  else  than  employment?  " 

"  Yes,  she  said  she  would  marry,  even  a  man 
a  great  deal  older  than  herself,  if  he  was  a  good 
man  and  had  money.  When  I  told  her  that 
you  admired  her  from  the  gallery  of  the  Pavilion 
— at  the  Mechanics'  Ball — she  listened  to  me, 
and  when  I  told  her  about  your  wealth,  and 
that  you  went  in  the  best  society,  she  said  she 
would  marry  such  a  man  if  she  could  love  him 
and  he  loved  her." 

"Love!  Marry!  Nonsense!  Who  has  said 
anything  about  love  or  marriage?"  he  exclaimed, 
giving  emphasis  with  his  hand  upon  the  arm  of 


30  SERALTHA. 

the  easy  chair.  "Notions!  notions!  Get  them 
out  of  her  head." 

"Me,  sir?" 

"  You ! "  He  leaned  far  forward  in  his  chair 
and  added,  "  for  me ! " 

"Fse  gwine  toh  try,  sah,"  Lethe  responded, 
as  if  thoughts  of  his  power  had  again  come  to 
her. 

"Try?  Do  it!  Get  her  in  there,"  (pointing 
with  his  thumh  toward  the  wall  of  the  third 
apartment)  "  and  get  the  spirits  to  help  you." 

"  Dah  light's  gone  out,  sah.  I  lef  it  foh — foh 
- — somebuddy  toh  tend,  en  deh  doan  ermember. 
Spirits  nebber  gwine  to  come  in  dat  room  any 
more." 

"Then  start  it  in  the  dark  room  of  the  Pine- 
street  house,  next  to  the  furnace  room.  You 
know  of  it?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Don't  use  it  until  after  the  reception.  I  will 
call  soon  after  and  give  you  advice." 

"  If  you  see  her  in  San  Francisco  in  a  month 
after  the  reception  it  must  be  before  the  third 


SERALTHA.  31 

day,  for  she  leaves  on  Saturday  to  spend  that 
time  with  the  lady  at  Santa  Rosa — Mrs.  Abel 
Hyman  is  her  name.  Her  husband  has  a  law 
business  in  the  city,  and  Seraltha  will  meet  him 
at  the  ferry,  Saturday,  and  go  with  him  to  his 
home.  She  told  me  about  this  visit  before  you 
spoke  of  the  reception." 

He  sprang  from  his  chair  and  grasped  her 
arm  with  both  hands.  She  felt  his  fingers  sink 
into  her  flesh  and  saw  the  muscles  of  his  face 
setting  in  lines  of  anger.  She  shrank  away 
from  him  over  the  further  side  of  her  chair 
and  with  sudden  movement  drew  her  arm  from 
his  grasp,  his  clutch  rending  the  sleeve  of  her 
heavy  gown.  As  if  awed  by  this  evidence  of 
her  superior  strength,  he  retraced  his  steps  and 
slowly  sunk  into  his  chair,  the  lines  of  anger  in 
his  face  sinking  behind  an  aspect  of  astonish 
ment. 

The  black  iris  of  Lethe's  eyes  grew  smaller, 
and  the  bands  around  them  expanded  and  glis 
tened  in  a  white  flame,  tinted  with  the  purple 


32  SERALTHA. 

of  the  porcelain  shade.     Bending  toward  him, 
she  demanded — 

"Chalmer  Grose!  Cuz  why  yoh  clutch  me ? 
No  white  man  gwine  toh  do  dat  toh  Lethe  St. 
Pier.  He's  gwine  to  fine  hisself  choke  dead, 
shuah  nuff I" 

"No!  No!  Not  you,  Mamma  St.  Pier,  not 
you,"  he  quickly  responded,  his  speech  hearing 
tones  of  apology  mingled  with  the  discord  of 
anger  which  escaped  in  husky  quavers,  as  he 
continued:  "AbeHyman!  Abe  Hy man!  He  is 
the  one  I  could  crush!" 

"  Cuz  why  doan  you  squose  Marsa  Hyman, 
den?  I'se  aint  Marsa  Hyman.  What's  agin  dat 
white  man?  Doan  yoh  like  him?"  Assurance 
that  her  visitor's  conduct  meant  no  ill  to  her 
self  dispelled  her  anger,  and  she  resumed  her 
usual  demeanor  and  speech :  "  Seraltha  says 
he  is  a  grand  gentleman,  and  when  he  speaks  in 
Court  the  judge  and  jury  believe  what  he  says, 
and  when  he  is  at  home  his  wife  forgets  she  is 
sick:" 

A   sneering   laugh,   forcing  its    escape   from 


SEBALTHA.  33 

around  the  set  teeth  of  Chalmer  Grose,  inter 
rupted  Lethe's  speech.  Following  the  laugh 
came  the  words,  "  Desperado!  Murderer!  " 
Taking  relief  for  his  emotions  by  a  deep  breath 
drawn  quickly  through  his  opened  mouth,  he 
continued,  with  dictatorial  sentences:  "  She 
must  not  go  with  him  Saturday,  or  any  other 
day — never!  She  must  be  kept  away  from  him 
— kept  away — always — away  from  Santa  Rosa. 
You  must  keep  her  from  him — from  Santa 
Rosa.  You  must  keep  her  in  the  city ! " 

"Me,  sir?"  gasped  Lethe,  amazed  by  the 
difficulties  in  the  way  of  this  new  duty. 

"  Yes,  you! — for  me." 

"  Yes,  sir;  but  I  don't  think  any  harm  would 
come  from  her  visit,"  said  Lethe. 

"  Everything  harmful !  He  is  prejudiced 
against  me.  Do  you  understand?  She  might 
say  something  that  would  cause  trouble.  You 
must  not  fail  to  keep  her  away  from  him." 

Arising  from  his  chair  and  taking  his  hat,  he 
said,  significantly:  "  The  visitor  will  call  soon 


34  SEBALTHA. 

after  I  leave.  I  know  that  you  will  not  fail  me 
at  any  point." 

"\Vlien  Chalmer  Grose  arrived  at  his  carriage, 
he  directed  the  man  in  waiting  to  go  on  a  mis 
sion  to  the  glen,  which  was  soon  accomplished. 
Returning,  the  man  mounted  to  the  driver's 
box,  and  drove  northward  into  the  city,  finally 
halting  the  carriage  at  the  Hotel  Havencourt. 

Here  Chalmer  Grose  alighted  and  went  to  his 
suite  of  rooms.  He  hastened  to  examine  the 
object  that  he  had  grasped  in  his  fall  upon  the 
sand  knoll.  This  object,  as  he  held  it  under  the 
gas-light  with  one  hand  while  adjusting  his 
eye-glasses  with  the  other,  showed  to  be  a  letter, 
with  the  name  "  Seraltha  Ames  "  written  upon 
its  envelope  in  the  cramped  characters  of  an 
unpracticed  hand.  That  he  was  eager  to  know 
its  import  he  showed  by  haste  in  withdrawing 
the  sheet  from  the  envelope.  Shaking  the  sand 
from  among  its  folds,  he  read  aloud,  hesitating 
at  times  because  of  misspelling  and  indistinct 
writing: 


SEBALTHA.  35 

"Miss  SEEALTHA: — 

"  Of  you  I  ask  if  Wednesday  you  will  meet 
me  on  the  sand  knoll?  You  are  afraid  to  come 
in  my  house,  so  meet  me  at  six  the  afternoon 
on  the  sand  knoll.  The  gentleman  must  have 
his  answer  if  you  go  to  Monterey.  I  so  much 
love  you  I  will  the  money  pay  for  new  dresses. 
You  will  have  plenty  money  sometime,  and  you 
pay  me  then.  The  gentleman  says  he  not  come 
to  your  mother's  house  in  '  The  Mission.' 
Everybody  in  '  The  Mission  '  say  '  poor  girl 
she,  rich  rnan  he — shame !'  I  take  a  house  out 
Pine  street.  House  mine,  furniture  mire.  You 
sometime  marry  a  rich  man.  Wednesday  meet 
me  on  the  sand  knoll.  You  say  yes.  I  much 
love  you. 

"  LETHE." 

After  reading,  Chalmer  Grose  made  com 
ments:  "  Sentiments  all  right;  scheme  all  right; 
the  woman  all  right;  but  who  is  this  ignorant 
fellow  who  writes  letters  for  her?  He  will  find 
the  drift.  My  name  is  not  on  it,  though. 
Sharp  woman!" 

Taking  a  cigar  from  his  case  he  lighted  it, 
and,  holding  the  flame  of  the  taper  against  a 


36  8EBALTHA. 

corner  of  the  letter,  threw  the  blazing  missive 
into  the  grate. 

He  passed  out  of  his  parlor  and  went  directly 
to  the  "  cinch-room"  of  the  Hotel  Havencourt — 
facetiously  called  so,  because  the  purses  of  visit 
ing  stockmen  were  reduced  to  small  dimensions 
by  resident  miners  who  opposed  them  in  games 
of  cards  played  therein.  When  Chalmer  Grose 
entered  the  cinch-room,  the  clock  by  the  door 
struck  ten.  When  he  passed  out,  well  toward 
morning,  he  took  with  him  the  bank  check  of  a 
etockman  from  Mendocino  county.  This  check 
read:  "Pay  to  the  order  of  Chalmer  Grose, 
five  thousand  dollars." 

Before  the  expected  visitor  arrived  at  the  door 
of  Lethe's  hut,  she  had  heard  his  footsteps  and 
held  the  door  open  for  his  entrance.  Guided 
by  the  glimmering  of  reflected  light  upon  the 
walls  to  the  dense  darkness  of  the  open  door 
way,  and  making  no  response  to  Lethe's  chal 
lenge,  he  laid  a  parcel  just  within  the  threshold 
and  walked  rapidly  away. 

"  Foh  dah  Lawd,  dis  mighty  curus ! "  exclaimed 


SEBALTHA.  37 

Lethe,  who  had  heard  the  heavy  parcel  strike 
the  stone  floor,  and  who,  when  the  visitor's  re 
treating  footfalls  were  no  longer  heard,  began  to 
measure  its  dimensions  with  her  toe.  "Er 
white  man,  er  yaller  man,  er  black  man  ?  No- 
buddy  knows!  Er  rock,  er  gole  mine,  er  din- 
nymite?  Nobuddy  fines  out!  Dahs  no  spirits 
done  frow  dis  in  dah  doh.  Massa  Chalmer 
Grose  say,  'Visitah.'  Dahs  no  visitah  Massa 
Chalmer  Grose  knows  gwine  toh  frow  dinny- 
mite  in  dah  doh.  I'se  gwine  to  fine  out  for 
shuah,  what  dah  visitah  done  frow  in  dah  doh." 
Closing  the  door  and  securing  it,  she  raised 
the  parcel  from  the  floor,  and  still  speaking  in 
the  dialect  which  she  always  used  in  her  solilo 
quies,  bore  it  into  the  second  apartment,  and 
laid  it  upon  the  dresser  near  the  lamp.  With 
speech  implying  the  purport  of  every  move 
ment,  she  whirled  one  of  the  easy  chairs  before 
the  dresser  and  sat  upon  it.  During  the  lapse 
of  several  moments  she  addressed  the  parcel 
with  questions  and  comments;  then,  arising 
from  her  chair  and  approaching  it,  she  pressed 

303061 


38  SEBALTHA. 

its  surface  with  her  fingers,  feeling  about  the 
corners  and  along  the  edges.  No  satisfaction 
resulting  from  this  inspection,  she  drew  a  pair 
of  heavy  scissors  from  the  dresser  and  cut  the 
strong  cord  securing  the  outer  wrapper.  When 
she  removed  the  wrapper,  an  oblong  box  of 
heavy  pasteboard  came  to  her  view,  its  cover 
also  secured  by  a  cord. 

She  hesitated  before  this  second  impediment 
in  the  way  of  her  investigation,  making  in 
quiries  of  it  regarding  its  contents,  and  com 
ments  upon  the  crushed  condition  of  its  corners. 
She  then  cut  the  cord  and  slowly  raised  the  lid 
from  the  box.  What  met  her  eyes  was  a  bulg 
ing  bag  of  heavy  buckskin,  its  opening  firmly 
secured  by  a  strong  leather  thong. 

Her  expanding  eyes,  her  shining  teeth,  form 
ing  into  lengthening  ranks,  her  swelling  chest, 
and  her  sinewy  hands  clutching  the  buckskin 
bag  as  they  would  an  escaping  bird,  showed  her 
comprehension  of  the  convex  ridges  upon  its 
surface,  and  her  arms  twining  around  it,  when 


SERALTHA.  39 

she  afterwards  laid  it  against  her  bosom,  told  of 
her  love  for  the  contents. 

Holding  it  upon  her  arm,  she  lowered  the 
folding  bed  and  reclined  upon  it.  Lying  upon 
her  side  with  her  head  resting  upon  a  heavy 
pillow,  which  she  pushed  upward  beyond  her 
shoulder,  she  bent  forward  so  that  her  eyes 
might  rest  upon  the  buckskin  bag,  which  she 
laid  upon  the  counterpane,  near  her  bosom. 

She  could  count  correctly  and  knew  the  value 
of  coins.  She  stroked  the  bag  awhile,  crooning 
to  it  like  a  mother  to  her  child,  and  then  loos 
ened  the  heavy  thong  that  secured  the  opening. 
A  yellow  stream  poured  out  upon  the  red  coun 
terpane  of  her  bed,  clinking  its  melody  as  it 
rushed  around  the  mouth  of  the  bag  into  the 
depression  upon  either  side. 

She  quickly  drew  the  heavy  skirt-  of  her 
gown  over  it  and  listened  intently.  Hearing  a 
slight  noise,  she  raised  herself  upon  her  elbow 
and  peered  about  the  room  from  side  to  side. 
A  light  breeze  from  landward  had  flitted 
across  the  bay  and  pushed  a  zephyr  over  the 


4:0  SEBALTHA. 

edge  of  the  glen,  which  fell  upon  the  hut  and 
puffed  the  canvas  lining  of  the  apartment. 
The  serpent  in  the  apex  over  her  head  stirred 
lightly  in  its  meshes.  Partly  assured  by  these 
movements  that  the  wind  had  caused  her  fear, 
she  again  reclined  upon  the  pillow,  yet  holding 
the  skirt  over  her  treasure,  and  soliloquized  in 
low  tones: 

"  Nobuddy  gwine  toh  tromp  on  dah  hill  in 
dah  night  time !  Nobuddy  'spex  he  fine  somefin 
in  dis  house,  'cep  spirits!  " 

Turning  her  head  so  that  sound  might  enter 
at  both  ears,  she  continued: 

'  Nuffin,  'cep  dah  wind!  Nuffin  steps  on  dem 
rocks  en  doan  clatter.  Wind  shuah  nuff ! " 
The  canvas  lining  moved  again. 

Arising  upon  her  elbow,  she  threw  the  skirt 
back  to  its  place,  and,  touching  the  gold  which 
had  flowed  from  the  buckskin  bag  with  light 
caress,  she  exclaimed: 

"A'int  dey  lubly!  Dah  harp  on  dah  side 
plays  dah  lubliest  music,  'cep  dem  heabenly 
harps.  Lemme  see  more!  Draw  dat  bag 


SEBALTHA.  41 

off.  Ea-sy — ea-sy — e&-sy.  Sh-h-h!  Dem  harps 
playin'agin!  Ea-sy — ea-sy — ea-sy.  Dar!  Lah! 
Lah!  Look  at  dat!  Jes  see  it!  I'se  gwine  toh 
git  crazy!  I'se  crazy  now,  fob  shuah!  Lemme 
holler!  Sh-h-h!  Ebbary  one  twenty  dollars. 
Nebber  anythin  on  dis  yearth  as  lubly  as  dem 
twenty  dollars.  Lethe!  Lethe  St.  Pier!  Is  dis 
yoh?  Lemme  feel!  Lethe!  Is  dis  yoh?  Is  dis 
money  yohs?  Yes !  for  shuah !  Lemme  count: 
One — two — three — four — five.  One  hundred. 
One — two — three — four — five.  Two  hundred. 

One — two — three — four  " Her  voice  fell  to 

silence,  but  her  lips  moved  in  response  to  the 
action  of  her  hand  silently  placing  the  coins  in 
yellow  ribbons  of  five,  clustered  in  groups  of  ten. 

Five  yellow  groups  rested  within  the  arc 
formed  by  her  bended  body.  With  her  head 
upon  the  pillow  and  her  eyes  feasting  upon 
their  beauties,  Lethe  St.  Pier  waited  for  the 
morrow. 

At  six,  the  old  bells  of  the  Mission  Dolores 
threw  out  their  peals  upon  the  still  morning 
air,  sounding  for  the  "Angelus."  "Holy  Mary, 


42  SERALTHA. 

Mother  of  God,  pray  for  us,  sinners!"  ascended 
in  many  voices  from  the  city  below,  and  min 
gled  with  their  tones.  Within  the  hut  crouch 
ing  in  the  glen  a  woman,  wearing  the  garb  of 
day,  lay  upon  the  folding  bed  asleep,  her  hands 
groping  among  the  golden  ribbons  shining 
against  the  red  counterpane. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

house  on  Pine  street  was  situated 
upon  an  upper  slope  of  a  western  hill, 
well  within  one  of  the  populous  neighborhoods 
of  the  city.  It  stood  high  above  the  pavement 
upon  an  angle  of  two  streets,  and  its  ample 
lawns  that  suggested  over-shrubbiness  upon 
their  lower  slopes  were  protected  in  position  by 
heavy  stone  walls  rising  from  the  sidewalks. 
A  long  granite  stairway  gave  access  to  the  front, 
and  in  the  rear  a  steep  driveway  led  from  the 
side  street  to  a  barn.  This  driveway  extended 
through  an  arched  opening  in  the  barn  and  con 
tinued  along  a  broad  causeway  that  crossed  a 
depression  in  the  grounds  to  the  rear  porch  of 
the  house. 

Above  the  arched  opening  in  the  barn  were 
three  sleeping-rooms,  one  having  an  exclusive 
stairway  and  double  windows  opening  toward 
the  house,  the  others  a  stairway  in  common, 
ending  at  a  landing  that  touched  the  threshold 

(43) 


44  SEBALTHA. 

of  each.  One  of  the  latter  opened  by  a  small 
door  into  the  lofts  above  the  stable-room.  This 
room  was  windowless  and  dark,  except  from  the 
light  which  sifted  through  crevices  or  struggled 
through  the  opened  door  of  the  lofts.  A  tele 
phone  hung  against  the  wall  of  the  room  front 
ing  the  house  on  Pine  street.  In  this  barn 
Chalmer  Grose  housed  his  horses,  carriages 
and  their  attendants. 

The  house  was  a  study  in  that  architectural 
deformity  called  "English  basement."  The 
interior  arrangement  of  the  basement  included 
a  hall  midway  of  its  width  and  extending  along 
its  length,  ending  against  a  landing  which  con 
nected  with  a  stone  stairway  leading  to  the 
higher  ground  of  the  rear.  This  stairway  was 
closed  by  a  door  of  plate  iron  that  swung 
inwardly  a  few  steps  below  the  outside  landing. 
A  dining-room,  kitchen,  etc.,  occupied  the 
space  upon  the  right  of  the  hall,  while,  upon  the 
left,  folding  doors  opened  into  a  reception-room. 
Beyond  were  dressing-rooms.  No  other  door 


SEBALTHA.  45 

appeared  upon  that  side  of  the  hall,  except  that 
of  the  furnace-room,  far  to  the  rear. 

The  long  stairway  leading  to  the  main  floor 
was  supported  against  the  left  wall.  This  stair 
way  led  to  a  broad  hall,  that  extended  from  its 
upper  landing,  to  the  rear  porch.  Upon  the 
right  of  the  landing,  a  vestibule  spread  to  twin 
windows  opening  to  a  side  veranda.  An  arched 
entrance  from  the  vestibule,  ornamented  with 
heavy  curtains  drooping  in  graceful  folds,  led  to 
spacious  double  parlors,  extending  along  the 
full  front  of  the  house.  These  were  separated 
by  tinted  scroll  work,  embossed  with  vines  and 
leaves  carved  on  its  surface.  Opposite  to  the 
parlor  entrance  folding  doors  opened  into  a 
family  room,  en  suite  with  a  sleeping-room  and 
others  beyond.  The  same  arrangement  of 
rooms  appeared  upon  the  opposite  side  of  the 
house  in  the  rear  of  the  further  parlor,  but  were 
differently  furnished,  having  articles  of  gor 
geous  colors;  the  dressing-room  and  chamber 
giving  evidence  of  use  as  a  bachelor's  apart- 


46  SEBALTHA. 

ments.  Other  furniture  of  the  house  was  in 
good  taste. 

The  servants'  rooms  were  upon  the  floor  above, 
and  were  lighted  by  windows  projecting  from  a 
much-gabled  roof. 

This  house,  with  its  ample  grounds,  was  the 
least  of  the  properties  of  Chalmer  Grose. 
Stocks,  bonds,  mining  interests,  buildings  on 
central  streets,  and  an  immense  grain  ranch — 
its  confines  begirding  the  aborted  homes  of  a 
thousand  families — were  among  the  greater. 
The  architecture  was  in  accord  with  his  tastes 
and  the  interior  with  his  purposes.  Entertain 
ment,  of  a  society  nature,  was  included,  at  first, 
with  that  of  congenial  friends  and  individual 
acquaintances.  Awhile  this  prospered.  Later, 
society,  while  holding  opened  doors  for  his 
entrance  to  its  drawing-rooms,  sent  letters  of 
regret  in  response  to  his  invitations.  This  cap 
rice  of  society  becoming  positive  in  its  action, 
he  removed  himself  to  a  suite  of  rooms  in  the 
Hotel  Havencourt,  leaving  the  house  and  its 
furnishings  to  the  care  of  a  housekeeper. 


SERALTHA.  47 

This  was  the  situation,  when  an  express  de 
livery  ascended  the  steep  driveway,  and  halted 
by  the  rear  porch,  in  the  evening  following  that 
of  the  conversation  in  the  hut.  The  wagon, 
besides  the  driver,  contained  Lethe  St.  Pier  and 
such  of  her  effects  as  she  desired  to  place  in  her 
new  home.  Alighting,  she  passed  around  the 
house  by  way  of  the  lawn  and  rang  the  bell  of 
the  front  door.  Her  summons  was  quickly  an 
swered  by  the  housekeeper,  who,  when  she 
opened  the  door  and  saw  Lethe's  dark  face  and 
muscular  form,  dimly  lighted  by  a  single  gas  jet 
burning  in  the  hall,  shrank  back  and  attempted 
to  close  it  against  the  visitor.  The  door  met 
Lethe's  foot,  thrust  between  itself  and  the  cas 
ing,  quickly  succeeded  by  her  knee  and  shoul 
der.  The  efforts  of  the  housekeeper  were  but  a 
feather  weight  against  the  strength  of  Lethe  St. 
Pier,  who  in  an  instant  stood  within  the  hall 
way,  her  eyes  flashing  in  anger  and  her  oppo 
nent  shrinking  toward  the  stairway  leading  to 
the  upper  floor. 

"Cuz   why  yoh  slam  dah   doh?"  Lethe  de- 


48  SEBALTHA. 

manded.  "Cuz  why  yoh  doan  say,  'come  in?' 
My  mind's  workin'  fob  tah  frow  yoh  down  dem 
front  steps,  onto  dah  sidewalk.  Cuz  why  yoh 
push  dah  doh  ginst  dah  lady  when  she's  comin 
toh  her  own  house?  " 

"You! — your  house!"  stammered  the  house 
keeper,  retreating  up  the  stairway  several  steps 
and  regarding  her  visitor  suspiciously,  as  if 
doubting  her  sanity. 

"Yes'm;  my  house!"  answered  Lethe,  with 
strong  emphasis  on  the  possessive,  "  en  ebbry- 
thing  that's  in  it." 

"  This  house  belongs  to  Mr.  Chalmer  Grose," 
responded  the  housekeeper,  taking  another  step 
upwards,  "and  everything  that  is  in  it,  and  I 
am  paid  to  care  for  it." 

"Massa  Chalmer  Grose  doan  ah  gwine  toh 
hab  nuffin  toh  do  wiv  dis  house  any  moh.  He 
done  rent  it  to  me,  en  ebbrything  that's  in  it. 
Yob's  gwine  toh  get  yoh  trumperies  outen  it, 
on  dah  'spress  wagon  by  dah  back  doh.  Yoh 
dohs  me  'spectable,  yoh  done  stay  all  night. 


SEBALTHA.  49 

Yoh  dohs  me  'strepulus,  yoh's  gwine  out,  dis 
minit." 

Lethe  began  a  vigorous  ascent  of  the  stairs, 
the  housekeeper  fleeing  before  her  advance 
through  the  upper  hall,  out  at  the  rear  door, 
and  past  the  express-delivery  to  the  carriage- 
room  of  the  barn.  Lethe  did  not  pursue  her 
beyond  the  delivery,  but  halted  there  and  gave 
the  driver  orders  to  deposit  his  load  upon  the 
porch.  .The  housekeeper  took  time  to  regain 
her  composure.  She  then  went  to  the  room 
fronting  the  house  and  conversed  through  the 
telephone.  What  was  said  in  answer  to  her 
inquiries  appeared  to  be  decisive,  and  in  Lethe's 
favor;  for  she  stopped  upon  the  way  when 
returning  to  the  house  and  bargained  with  the 
expressman  for  the  transfer  of  her  effects. 
Lethe,  in  the  meantime,  had  placed  her  prop 
erty  near  the  stairway  in  the  vestibule,  and  was 
seated  upon  one  of  the  larger  bundles.  The 
housekeeper  hesitated  when  she  entered  the 
hall,  and  Lethe,  noticing  her  indecision,  arose 
and  said: 


50  SERALTHA. 

"  Come  on,  ma'am.  I  am  ready  to  assist 
you." 

"Wh — where  is  the  other  one?"  stammered 
the  housekeeper,  cautiously  advancing  toward 
the  vestibule. 

"  There  is  no  other  one.  I  am  Lethe  St.  Pier, 
the  owner  of  this  house  for  five  years." 

"Yes;  yes'm;  he  said  so.     I  am  going." 

The  housekeeper,  now  trembling,  and  staring 
at  Lethe,  entered  the  vestibule,  carefully  avoid 
ing  a  near  approach  to  her,  and  passed  into  the 
family  room,  closing  the  door  behind  her. 
Her  white  teeth,  slowly  extending  their  ranks, 
gave  the  only  evidence  that  Lethe  had  noticed 
the  fright  of  the  housekeeper,  who,  when  she 
was  ready  for  departure,  asked  the  driver  of  the 
delivery  to  aid  her  in  the  removal  of  her  effects 
to  his  wagon.  The  driver  said  to  her,  after  he 
had  turned  his  horses  upon  the  causeway: 

"  It  be  dangerous  if  that  woman  is  your  enemy. 
She  is  stronger  than  I  am." 

Lethe  continued  her  preparations  for  perma 
nent  occupation  of  the  house  far  into  the  night, 


SEBALTHA.  61 

placing  articles  that  she  had  brought,  without 
hesitation,  as  if  she  had  thought  of  and  decided 
upon  their  positions  before  she  came.  She  was 
familiar  with  the  house,  having  been  a  frequent 
visitor  before  the  time  in  which  society  sent 
letters  of  regret.  These  visits  were  in  the 
interest  of  Chalmer  Grose,  who  paid  her  much 
money  for  special  service. 

Just  before  retiring  she  went  to  the  furnace- 
room,  bearing  in  one  hand  a  tin  oil  lamp,  and 
in  the  other  articles  of  furniture.  She  went 
directly  to  a  further  corner  of  the  room  and 
opened  a  section  of  the  wainscoting  which  acted 
as  a  door,  yet  concealed  from  sight  when  closed 
by  the  mouldings  and  cornice.  This  led  to  a 
dark  room  under  the  gorgeously  furnished 
chamber  on  the  floor  above,  and  of  the  same 
dimensions.  The  floor  was  littered  with  boxes, 
baskets,  empty  bottles  and  broken  glassware. 
A  narrow  stairway  extended  to  a  trap-door 
opening  into  the  room  above.  Nothing  else  was 
visible  in  the  room,  except  the  aperture  of  a 
ventilator  in  a  corner  opposite  the  stairway. 


52  SEBALTHA. 

Lethe  cleared  away  the  litter  in  the  room  and 
put  it  in  the  area  under  the  porch.  When  she 
had  retired  to  the  sleeping-room  of  the  family 
suite,  a  tin  oil  lamp  pushed  its  dim  light  over 
the  surface  of  a  small  pine  table  within  the  dark 
room,  and  near  by  stood  a  mutilated  cane-seated 
chair  waiting  in  the  gloomy  shadow. 


Madam  Convincia  Hitts  (fashionable  dress 
maker)  and  her  expert  assistants,  unfolded  cloth, 
laces,  trimmings,  etc.,  upon  a  table  in  the 
family  room  during  the  morning  following 
Lethe's  occupancy.  Three  gowns  were  made 
from  these. 

The  material  that  first  came  under  the  scis 
sors  of  Madam  Hitts  was  of  pearl  silk,  moire 
antique,  and  as  she  placed  it  upon  Seraltha 
(she  having  arrived  soon  after  the  advent  of 
Madam  Hitts)  for  the  first  fitting,  exclaimed : 

'The  ideal!  Just  to  your  style!  your  com 
plexion!  your  form!  yourself!" 


SEBALTHA.  53 

Upon  the  second  fitting,  the  skirt  was  seen  to 
be  en  train,  with  deep,  white  lace  foot-ruchings, 
the  revers  bordered  with  swansdown,  and  the 
front  drawn  close  to  the  lower  form.  Against 
this  deviation  from  her  idea  of  propriety  Ser- 
altha  strongly  protested,  standing  before  a  mir 
ror  and  showing  wherefore. 

"  Some  draw  much  closer,  Miss.  After  you 
have  worn  it  an  hour  in  society  you  will  feel 
that  you  are  a  trifle  behind  the  style,"  said 
Madam  Hitts. 

The  skirt  was  removed  and  laid  aside,  bear 
ing  its  original  stitchings. 

Upon  the  third  fitting,  the  pointed  bodice 
waist  held  the  swansdown  border  of  its  corsage 
against  the  curve  of  her  shoulders,  nestling  its 
angle  far  down  the  revealments  spreading 
between.  Madam  Hitts  noticed  the  flushed 
face  reflected  in  the  mirror  as  she  stood  behind 
Seraltha.  Anticipating  objections,  she  said: 

"  A  beautiful  form,  Miss.  Such  firmness, 
such  tints,  I  have  seldom  seen.  The  corsage 


54  SEKALTHA. 

should  have  been  cut  square  instead  of  V-shaped. 
The  change  is  easily  made." 

"No,  Madam!  this  is  enough — too  much!" 
stammered  Seraltha,  pressing  the  angle  of  the 
swansdown  against  her  bosom. 

"  When  you  see  the  others,"  persisted  Madam 
Hitts,  "  you  will  feel  yourself  too  much  covered, 
and  will  regret  this  decision.  None  will  excel 
your  beauty;  few  approach  it."  Moving  to 
unlace  the  bodice,  she  continued:  "A  few 
moments  will  suffice  to  " — 

"  No,  Madam!  "  interrupted  Seraltha,  "  I 
would  not  wear  it.  I  shall  wear  a  cluster  of 
flowers  upon  this." 

"  If  you  must,  Miss,  La  France  roses,  by  all 
means.  Only  three,  remember,  only  three,  half 
blown,  with  three  small  buds  and  four  rose- 
leaves.  This  dress  is  fit  for  a  queen's  reception, 
and  " —  (Madam  Hitts  added,  as  she  looked 
admiringly  upon  Seraltha,  whose  eyes  had 
deepened  to  violet  and  the  color  of  her  cheeks 
to  scarlet),  "  you  to  be  the  queen." 

The    next    day — Saturday — the    scissors    of 


SERALTHA.  55 

Madam.  Hitts  glided  through  an  enticement  in 
undecided  tints,  with  ashes-of-roses  struggling 
for  recognition.  Upon  the  fitting,  this  fell  from 
Seraltha's  shoulders  in  princess  form  to  a  full 
train  of  accordeon  plaiting,  over  which  splashed 
double  cascades  of  rich  blonde  laces  that  sprang 
from  the  low-turned  collar  in  front,  and,  rip 
pling  in  company  over  the  bosom,  parted 
beneath  in  drooping  curves  that  swept  around 
to  the  train  in  widening  streams.  Another 
cascade  fell  to  the  feet.  Cascades  also  encircled 
the  flowing  sleeves,  contrasting  with  the  marble 
purity  of  her  rounded  arms,  which  were  revealed 
well  toward  her  elbows  upon  every  movement. 
When  this  gown  was  completed  and  Seraltha 
stood  before  the  mirror  for  a  final  approval,  she 
folded  her  arms  across  her  waist,  holding  the 
sleeves  close  with  either  hand.  Madam  Hitts 
smiled. 

In  the  morning  of  the  following  Monday,  the 
scissors  wended  their  way  through  a  bolt  of 
black  surah-silk.  Upon  the  second  fitting  the 
skirt  from  this  material  showed  faintly  through 


56  SERALTHA. 

a  front  of  graduated  black  chantilly  flounces, 
headed  with  cord  passementerie.  The  front  was 
gored  and  drawn  closely  to  the  form,  the  full 
back  falling  gracefully  to  its  length  without 
adornment,  yet  finished  at  the  bottom  by  a 
heavy  black  cord,  which  in  its  movements  just 
escaped  the  touch  of  the  carpet.  Upon  a  final 
fitting  this  costume  showed  a  basque,  short  over 
the  hips  and  depending  in  points  between,  and 
ornamented  harmoniously,  yet  in  a  manner 
defining  the  bust  by  a  zouave  effect  in  passe 
menterie.  Madam  Hitts  again  overcame  objec 
tions  by  reference  to  styles. 

This  costume  having  afterward  become  cele 
brated,  the  complete  outfit  will  receive  mention: 
An  English  walking  hat  of  black  straw,  faced 
with  velvet,  edged  with  gilt,  and  adorned  in 
front  with  black  ostrich  pompons,  full  aigrette, 
a  plume  springing  from  them  and  sweeping 
around  the  side.  A  half-face  veil  of  black,  dot 
ted  with  gold;  a  parasol  of  black  chantilly  laces 
and  a  chatelaine  satchel  with  oxidized  silver 
hook  and  chain,  depending  from  the  waist. 


CHAPTER  V. 

STEAMER  trunk  rested  in  the  driver's 
box  of  a  carriage  that  stood  by  the  rear 
porch  of  the  house  on  Pine  street,  at  ten  o'clock 
of  the  morning  preceding  a  reception  of  the 
Second  Regiment  (National  Guard)  officers,  to 
be  held  at  Monterey.  Within  it  were  seated 
Chalmer  Grose,  Seraltha  Ames,  and  upon  the 
front  seat,  with  bundles  beside  her,  Lethe  St. 
Pier,  acting  lady's  maid.  Arriving  at  Third  and 
Townsend  streets,  they  found  the  waiting  special 
train,  being  filled  with  resident  soldiers  (young 
fellows  of  the  best  society)  noticing  the  ladies, 
vivacious  maidens,  also  of  the  best  society; 
lively  matrons,  society  business  men,  who  knew 
the  world  and  did  not  notice  the  ladies  in  gen 
eral,  but,  specifically,  Colonel  August  Garrison, 
with  staff,  and  Mrs.  Katie  Twohy.  The  Colonel 
knew  everybody  in  the  best  society,  and  so  did 
Mrs.  Katie  Twohy.  With  her  greeting  and 

(57) 


58  SERALTHA. 

merry-making  she  hastened  the  time  until  the 
train  was  in  motion  and  every  seat  of  the  car 
into  which  she  had  entered  fully  occupied, 
except  the  one  that  Lethe  St.  Pier  had  taken, 
which  was  turned  to  face  Chalmer  Grose  and 
Seraltha.  This  she  shared,  greeting  Chalmer 
Grose  quite  icily,  and,  while  taking  her  seat, 
glanced  inquiringly  at  his  companion.  He 
granted  an  introduction,  also  icy.  Mrs.  Katie 
Twohy  then  gave  attention  to  the  scenery  out 
side  the  car. 

She  was  blondish  in  complexion ;  her  eyes 
were  light  hlue  and  inspective,  and  her  form 
girlish,  although  she  was  past  thirty.  Her  man 
ner  was  very  positive.  She  had  been  twice 
divorced;  hut  as  she  had  been  the  plaintiff  in 
both  cases,  and,  from  the  results,  had  come  into 
possession  of  a  desirable  property,  her  reputation 
was  not  in  question  and  the  best  society  con 
tinued  in  extending  favors  to  her,  which  she 
accepted  as  her  due,  defining  divorce :  expiation 
for  the  sin  of  mesalliance. 


SERALTHA.  59 

Mrs.  Katie  Twohy  stilled  her  immediate 
neighborhood  by  her  silence  during  the  entire 
journey,  Chalmer  Grose  making  a  few  pointless 
remarks  to  Seraltha,  who  responded  timidly. 
The  eyes  opposite  to  her  seemed  at  times  to 
listen  and  then  to  speak.  Only  when  Colonel 
August  Garrison,  who  was  imposing  in  stature, 
courteous  and  well-bred,  came  to  escort  her  to 
the  landing  at  Monterey,  did  Mrs.  Katie  Twohy 
again  become  cheerful. 

The  special  train  soon  stood  empty  on  its 
track,  the  passengers  wending  their  several  ways 
toward  the  hotel  or  to  the  beach.  An  English 
drag  (two  chestnut  horses  tandem)  bore  Chal 
mer  Grose,  Seraltha  and  her  maid  to  the  Hotel 
del  Monte. 

Delightful  Monterey !  The  soft  ocean  zephyrs, 
pushed  onward  by  glistening  billows,  fan  the 
sanded  shore  and  sob  farewells  through  quiver 
ing  palms.  Lingering  near  their  azure  birth 
place,  they  steal  behind  the  evergreens  to  caress 
the  blushing  pansies  nestling  on  their  beds,  then 
stir  the  lawns  with  gentle  touch  and  hasten  up 


60  SEEALTHA. 

the  winding  walks  to  greet  the  terraced  roses 
waving  their  welcome  from  the  upper'  slopes. 
With  lulling  whisper  they  flit  among  the  groves 
of  pine  beyond,  and,  wearied,  hide  within 
the  cypress  groves,  where  trembling  leaves  send 
back  an  echo  of  falling  tears.  The  rolling  waves 
break  on  the  sloping  beach,  and,  baffled  in  their 
chase,  fall  back  upon  the  ocean's  breast  in 
answering  moan.  The  evening  air  holds 
essences  of  subtle  power  that  whelm  the  soul 
and  draw  to  arbored  place  and  quiet  nook. 
Mirth  falls  into  pensive  mood,  hope  dreams, 
and  passion  sighs.  Alluring  Monterey! 

The  afternoon  sun  shone  upon  merry  groups 
clustered  about  the  sands,  upon  lines  of  bathers 
in  the  surf;  upon  gay  equipages  speeding  along 
the  tide  lines;  upon  quiet  couples  strolling 
about  the  grounds  and  into  the  hotel  verandas. 
Within  one  of  these,  Mrs,  Katie  Twohy,  Colonel 
August  Garrison,  and  Nathan  Rapps  of  the 
Investigator,  sat  in  a  semi-circle  that  opened 
toward  and  commanded  a  view  of  Chalmei 
Grose  and  Seraltha,  who  were  seated  near  a 


SEEALTHA.  61 

further  column  of  the  veranda,  in  conversation. 

Nathan  Rapps,  known  in  newspaper  circles 
as  Nat  Rapps,  was  allowed  to  feel  at  ease  when 
in  the  company  of  Mrs.  Katie  Twohy.  He  was 
short  in  stature  when  standing,  but  when  sitting 
he  seemed  to  exceed  the  average  man  in  height 
and  bulk. 

After  a  long  conversation  Mrs.  Katie  Twohy 
was  heard  to  say: 

"  I  have  given  you  more  information  upon 
this  subject,  Mr.  Rapps,  than  my  observation 
might  justify.  Much  may  be  surmised." 

"  Mrs.  Twohy,"  responded  the  reporter,  "  if 
one  learns  more  than  the  truth  he  gains  the 
truth,  so  far  as  it  has  evolved,  and  surmise — 
pardon,  Mrs.  Twohy — clever  surmise,  is  the 
mental  region  where  further  facts  are  found, 
and  in  which  wisdom  delves  and  gathers  for  its 
own.  This  thought  reminds  me  of  an  experi 
ence  :  While  driving  in  Golden  Gate  Park  one 
Sunday  afternoon  last  summer — no,  the  summer 
before — a  team  of  grays  passed  me,  speeding 
toward  the  Cliff.  When  a  short  distance  in 


62  SEEALTHA. 

advance  of  my  position,  the  team  suddenly 
halted,  a  lady  stepped  from  the  carriage  and 
walked  hastily  to  the  lawn  skirting  the  drive 
way.  The  grays  were  turned,  bringing  the 
carriage  nearer  to  the  place  where  she  had 
halted.  She  stood  awhile  in  conversation  with 
some  one  within  the  carriage  and  shortly  after 
ward  re-entered  it.  It  was  a  barouche,  with 
drawn  curtains.  The  outfit  returned  to  the 
city.  You  see,  she  would  not  go  to  the  Cliff; 
but  if  everything  had  been  all  right — as  it  should 
have  been — she  would  not  have  been  riding  in 
the  Park  behind  drawn  curtains.  I  followed, 
and  last  summer,  a  year  after,  the  Investigator 
published  exclusively  a  full  history  of  the 
tragedy  —  names,  dates,  circumstances,  and 
causes — in  the  next  morning's  issue.  He  was 
shot  at  the  Presidio,  at  nine  o'clock  of  the 
evening  before — you  remember?" 

As  the  application  of  this  experience  dawned 
upon  the  mind  of  Mrs.  Katie  Twohy,  she  sprang 
from  her  chair,  and  standing  very  near  Colonel 
August  Garrison,  said,  in  a  manner  evidently 


SEBALTHA.  63 

intended  to  be  both  impressive  and  resolute,  but 
which  lapsed,  as  she  advanced  in  her  speech,  to 
the  deference  of  a  victim  at  bay  before  a  supe 
rior  animal: 

"  You  have  been — been — Mr.  Rapps !  you  have 
no  privilege  to  use  society  chat  for  professional 
purposes;  besides  you  do  not  dare,  and  the 
Investigator  dares  not  to  profit  by  what  I  have 
told  you.  You  would  not,  you  could  not, 
especially  as  I  might  be — be  " — Here  she  came 
to  a  full  stop.  Nat  Rapps  hastened  to  answer: 

"  Certainly  not.  Society  chat — also  confiden 
tial.  Certainly  not.  No  intentions,  such  as  you 
indicate.  You  interested  me.  I  wandered  into 
possibilities.  The  Investigator  has  no  use  for 
possibilities." 

"  Certainly  not.  Mr.  Rapps  never  betrays 
confidences,  Mrs.  Twohy,"  said  Colonel  August 
Garrison,  in  confirmation.  He  afterward,  at-  her 
request,  escorted  her  toward  the  beach,  giving 
profuse  assurance  that  information  which  she 
had  imparted  to  Nat  Rapps  would  not  be  used 
in  a  professional  way.  Nevertheless,  when  they 


64:  SEBALTHA. 

had  come  to  the  beach,  Mrs.  Katie  Twohy  was 
seen  to  stamp  her  foot  upon  the  damp  sand. 
Nat  Rapps  put  his  feet  upon  the  lower  round  of 
his  chair  and  noticed  the  people  upon  the 
veranda,  especially  those  near  the  further  col 
umn.  Presently  Seraltha's  maid  appeared,  and 
after  a  short  conversation  she  went  with  her  into 
the  hotel,  leaving  Chalmer  Grose  sitting  alone 
and  evidently  annoyed. 

Discomfort  to  Chalmer  Grose  had  entered  the 
special  train  with  Mrs.  Kate  Twohy.  He  had 
received  her  letter  of  regret  years  before,  in 
response  to  an  invitation  to  attend  a  reception 
at  the  house  on  Pine  street. 

Discomfort  to  him  entered  the  Hotel  del 
Monte  with  Nat  Rapps.  Especially  was  it 
active  upon  the  veranda  while  that  gentleman 
was  in  conversation  with  Mrs.  Katie  Twohy, 
and  it  became  more  oppressive  when  he  saw 
that  Rapps  turned  his  attention  toward  the  fur 
ther  column,  and  saw  his  feet  sliding  along  the 
lower  round  of  his  chair  as  if  in  search  of  some 
thing  hidden.  Chalmer  Grose  had  met  Nat 


8ERALTHA.  65 

Rapps  aforetime,  and  knew  that  he  was  held  by 
him  in  low  esteem. 

Discomfort  took  full  possession  of  Chalmer 
Grose,  while  he  conversed  with  Seraltha  on 
the  veranda  and  ventured  to  turn  her  thoughts 
into  impure  channels.  The  price  paid  for  social 
companionship  with  her  took  the  semblance  of 
a  squandered  fortune  when  with  modest  apology 
she  justified  her  acceptance  of  his  invitation 
and  denied  an  evil  motive  to  her  action.  When 
she  retired  with  her  maid  he  turned  his  chair 
so  that  Nat  Rapps  might  not  see  his  face,  and 
remained  in  meditation  until  dinner.  There 
after,  through  the  festivities  of  the  night,  he 
entertained  Seraltha  by  assuming  the  solicitude 
of  an  admiring  friend,  for  her  welfare  and  en 
joyment. 

In  the  evening  the  parlors  and  assembly 
rooms  were  filled  with  inspiring  music,  beauti 
ful  women,  handsome  men,  rustling  silks,  sil 
very  laughter,  gallant  compliments,  and  splen 
did  ornaments.  All  of  these  adjectives,  and 


66  SEBALTHA. 

many  more,  besides  names  feminine  and  mas 
culine,  titles  and  occupations,  Nat  Rapps  put 
upon  his  note  book  with  pleasant  comment. 

After  completing  his  notes  and  telegraphing 
to  the  Investigator  a  report  of  the  Second  Regi 
ment  reception,  Nat  Rapps  went  to  the  second 
story  of  the  hotel  and  strolled  about  the  corri 
dors  enclosing  the  suite  of  rooms  occupied  by 
Seraltha  and  her  maid.  He  had  passed  the 
opened  door  of  the  parlor  several  times,  hesitat 
ing  as  he  did  so,  and  was  rewarded  by  the 
appearance  of  Lethe  and  an  inquiry  from  her 
regarding  the  object  of  his  search. 

"  I  was  under  the  impression,  madam,"  he 
responded,  "  that  this  is  the  parlor  reserved  for 
Mrs.  Katie  Twohy,  but  not  being  positive,  I 
hesitated.  I  ask  your  pardon,  madam." 

"Her  suite  is  further  down  the  hall,  sir," 
answered  Lethe,  pleased  with  the  smiling  gen 
tleman  who  had  addressed  her  so  courteously; 
"  but  she  is  below  now,  sir.  I  saw  her  go  down 
awhile  ago." 


SERALTHA.  67 

Xat  Rapps  expressed  regrets  because  he  had 
committed  the  error,  and  ventured  to  say: 

"  I  can  infer  that  you  assist  the  beautiful  lady 
in  pearl  silk  who  is  admired  by  everyone  in  the 
parlors.  I  saw  you  with  her  in  the  tandem, 
driving  to  the  hotel  from  the  Special.  She  is 
charmingly  attired.  You  must  have  had  much 
society  experience,  madam." 

"  I  have  been  with  society  people  all  my  life, 
sir,"  responded  Lethe,  bowing  an  acknowledg 
ment  to  his  opinion. 

"  1  have  a  sister,  madam,  married,  very 
wealthy,  always  richly  dressed,  but  never  seems 
to  have  her  gowns  put  on  just  right,  like  that 
of  the  lady  in  your  charge  to-night.  If  you  are 
engaged  satisfactorily  she  might,  at  least,  advise 
with  you  to  her  advantage.  She  can  afford  to 
pay  handsomely." 

"I'm  not  waiting  on  ladies  now,  'cept  some 
times — " 

"Then  she  could  call  upon  you,  certainly." 
He  put  this  leader  in  very  positively,  although 
courteously. 


68  SERALTHA. 

"  Yes — yes — she  might,  at  my  house." 

Soon  afterward  Nat  Rapps  went  below  and 
upon  a  page  of  his  diary  a  paragraph  appeared 
that  included  the  number  of  the  house  on  Pine 
street,  the  name  of  its  occupant,  and  the  names 
of  Chalmer  Grose  and  Seraltha  Ames.  He  then 
joined  in  the  festivities  and  moved  as  a  guest 
until  the  ending. 

When  the  special  train  arrived  at  Third  and 
Townsend  streets,  San  Francisco,  the  following 
afternoon,  a  carriage  awaited  it  that  bore  away 
a  steamer  trunk  and  three  passengers,  as  before. 
It  was  driven  to  the  house  on  Pine  street,  and 
thence  to  the  Hotel  Havencourt,  where  Chalmer 
Grose  alighted  and  retired  to  his  rooms. 

To  the  general  observer,  familiar  with  society 
affairs,  this  reception  presented  the  same  un 
changing  movements  that  had  moulded  the 
previous  one,  and  others  going  before,  to  a 
pleasing  monotony.  Here  a  diamond  flashing 
where  before  a  pearl  had  rested;  there  a  flush 
ing  bosom  where  before  a  maiden's  bodice  had 
spread  its  modest  laces;  colors  where  tints  had 


SEEALTHA.  69 

blended,  or  a  void  where  a  face  had  smiled,  are 
all  the  variations  noticed  in  these  society  re 
unions.  This  the  familiar  observer  asserts  and 
this  the  eye  confirms.  Yet  beneath  the  pene 
tration  of  sight  are  mighty  happenings. 

To  Seraltha,  Monterey  was  Epocha — a  cloud 
behind,  a  sunburst  beyond.  Yonder,  the  com 
mon-place,  the  unrefined,  "  The  Mission."  Now, 
and  forever,  the  beautiful,  the  gentle,  "  the 
world."  Thoughts  of  her  mother  now  held  a 
phantasm,  toiling  for  naught.  True,  this  mother 
was  cheerful,  and  in  her  youth  had  pleasures — 
at  the  lake  side,  near  her  home  in  Scotland,  in 
the  wood,  and  upon  the  meadows.  With  delight 
she  had  told  of  merry  girls  romping  about  the 
shores  of  secluded  coves,  or  splashing  through 
their  shallow  depths  with  unstockinged  feet, 
holding  the  gown  secure  from  a  wetting;  of 
laughing  troops  ranging  the  wood,  begarlanded 
with  leaves  and  flitting  out  with  happy  shouts 
to  join  in  dances  upon  the  sward. 

These  scenes,  in  Monterey,  would  spread  the 
smile  of  scorn  and  tempt  the  jibe.  Another 


70  SEBALTHA. 

world !  Her  mother  dwelt  afar  off  in  a  receding 
distance,  and  shadows  fell  between  them  through 
which  neither  could  ever  pass.  Not  the  shadow 
of  scorn;  love  burned  bright  in  the  heart  of  the 
girl  as  in  the  mother's  breast.  Not  shame;  the 
daughter's  snowy  arm  upheld  to  church  and  fes 
tival  an  uncomely  form,  grasping  with  knotted 
hand,  toil  seamed,  and  moved  unconscious  of 
superior  worth;  but  shades  of  infinite  potenti 
ality,  deep  as  that  cast  by  Eden's  forbidden 
tree — the  shadows  of  the  seminary  and  Mon 
terey. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Seraltha's  use,  Lethe  St.  Pier  assigned 
the  gorgeously-furnished  chamber  and 
connecting  rooms  in  the  house  on  Pine  street. 
Lethe  had  feared  that  she  would  not  give  her 
consent  to  this,  and  that  she  would  return  to 
her  occupation  after  the  reception;  but  the 
shadow  of  Monterey  had  fallen  upon  Seraltha's 
soul,  and  all  of  life,  except  that  phase  portrayed 
by  the  fragment  moving  under  the  gaslights  of 
the  Hotel  del  Monte,  seemed  to  her  a  scourge 
from  which  to  flee.  Knowing  nothing  of  the 
ownership  or  the  history  of  the  house  she 
accepted  Lethe's  hospitality. 

She  retired  at  an  early  hour,  and  awoke  at 
sunrise,  the  accustomed  time  of  her  childhood. 
Looking  about  the  room  to  verify  her  presence 
she  yielded  to  the  contentment  that  whelms  the 
tired  soul  suddenly  freed  from  the  call  of  duty. 

(7D 


72  SEBALTHA. 

In  a  half  somnolence  she  mingled  the  scenes  at 
Monterey  with  fancies  of  the  future  in  reasoning 
dreams  that  impressed  their  themes  upon  her 
willing  thoughts  until  long  after  a  full  awaken 
ing:  "He  is  experienced  and  spoke  to  try  my 
strength.  This  is  but  right.  He  knows  me  not. 
He  has  tried  my  virtue  and  found  it  secure.  I 
have  parried  the  first  attack.  All  men  attack,  as 
all  the  world  knows.  No  woman  charges  heinous 
offence  against  him,  who  thus  attacks,  and, 
foiled,  retreats,  coming  again  in  guise  of  love. 
He  does  love.  He  is  now  courteous,  gentle  and 
gives  me  deference.  He  now  sees  my  better 
self  and  would  possess  it.  This  is  his  due.  He 
will  give  to  me,  besides  love,  life's  luxuries. 
He  will  anchor  me  to  ease,  secure  from  toil  and 
forever  away  from  '  The  Mission.'  ' 

It  was  midday  when  Seraltha  entered  the 
dining-room  and  found  Lethe  awaiting  her  with 
a  dainty  breakfast.  During  her  repast  a  mes 
senger  rung  the  door-bell,  which  Lethe  answered, 
returning  with  a  note  addressed  to  Seraltha. 
She  unfolded  it  and  read  aloud: 


SERALTHA.  73 

"Miss  SERALTHA: — 

"  Urgent  business  will  prevent  my  call 
this  evening,  as  arranged.  I  am  much  dis 
appointed.  I  will  call  Saturday  evening,  instead, 
should  you  consent,  by  a  return  note  handed  to 
the  messenger.  I  anticipate  an  enchanting 
visit  when  we  meet  again. 

"  Impatiently  yours, 

"  CHALMER  GROSE." 

"  But  Mr.  Hyman  will  expect  me  at  the  ferry 
to  go  with  him  to  Santa  Rosa,"  said  Seraltha, 
turning  to  Lethe  with  an  expression  of  inquiry 
upon  her  face. 

"Must  you  meet  Mr.  Hyman?"  asked  Lethe. 

"No!"  responded  Seraltha,  and  retiring  to 
her  room  she  wrote  an  answer  of  approval. 
Giving  it  to  the  messenger,  she  finished  her 
breakfast  and  went  to  the  parlors. 

She  put  aside  the  curtains  of  the  windows, 
caressing  their  silken  folds.  A  gilded  cage 
hung  behind  one,  high  against  the  window. 
She  stood  upon  an  ottoman  and  peered  into  it. 
Two  love-birds  lay  beside  the  empty  seed-cup, 


74  SERALTHA. 

dead.  The  frightened  housekeeper  had  for 
gotten  them.  She  stumbled  from  the  ottoman 
to  a  sofa  near  by  and  reclined  upon  it,  looking 
away  from  the  scene.  Presently  she  arose  and 
summoned  Lethe,  who  removed  the  starved 
love-birds  and  the  gilded  cage.  After  she  had 
gone  away,  Seraltha  stood  by  the  window  and 
looked  up  and  down  the  street,  then  to  the  place 
where  the  cage  had  hung.  Yellow  and  green 
feathers  upon  the  window-sash  glistened  in  the 
sunlight. 

She  hastened  to  her  dressing-room  and  soon 
reappeared  robed  in  the  surah  silk  gown  of 
graduated  flounce  and  zouave  effect.  Firmly 
refusing  Lethe's  offer  to  provide  a  carriage  for 
her  use,  she  went  upon  the  street  and  walked  to 
Golden  Gate  Park. 

She  avoided  the  conservatory,  passing  around 
it  by  a  secluded  pathway  to  a  rustic  seat,  shrink 
ing  within  the  shadows  of  a  group  of  live  oak. 
Partially  screened  from  observation,  she  took 
a  seat  and  looked  out  over  the  broad  parkway 
stretching  toward  the  ocean  cliffs. 


SEBALTHA.  75 

Many  years  had  passed  since  Seraltha  first 
selected  this  seat  for  observation  of  the  things 
she  could  not  possess.  Sundays  or  during  holi 
day  outings,  she  shared  it  with  her  mother  or 
with  a  school-mate — silent  herself,  but  listening 
to  the  comments  of  her  companion,  and,  with 
eyes  deepening  to  violet,  followed  the  move 
ments  of  a  beautiful  saddle  horse,  or  an  elegant 
equipage. 

More  often  alone,  in  the  closing  hours  of  the 
day,  she  would  watch  straggling  teams  that 
loomed  up  out  of  the  mists  and  sped  by  her 
with  whirring  wheels.  All  those  who  then 
passed  by  were  to  her  strange  people.  They  were 
not  of  "  The  Mission/' 

To-day  the  violet  eyes  saw  equals,  moving 
with  familiar  purpose.  One  raised  his  hat  to 
her,  as  he  flashed  by  behind  a  foaming  roadster 
geared  to  speed  with  socks  and  toe-weights. 
His  arm  had  encircled  her  waist  in  a  waltz  at 
Monterey.  A  woman  reined  her  span  in  swerv 
ing  speed,  passing  the  plodding  landau  and  staid 
barouche,  leaving  broad  scollops  upon  the 


76  SERALTHA. 

sanded  roadway  behind  her  calash.  Seraltha 
had  seen  her  in  the  centre  of  an  admiring  group 
at  Monterey.  Familiar  faces  crowded  by,  as  if 
in  a  procession.  With  all  their  ambitions  Seral- 
tha's  aspirations  held  even  pace. 

The  rays  of  the  sun  had  crept  under  the  live- 
oaks  before  she  left  the  rustic  seat.  Crossing  a 
sloping  lawn  to  a  foot-path  near  the  border  of 
the  driveway  she  strolled  upon  it  to  the  princi 
pal  entrance  of  the  Park.  Inviting  street  cars 
stood  near  by;  but  she  entered  a  barouche  the 
door  of  which  was  opened  by  a  courteous  livery 
man.  Seraltha  was  driven  to  the  house  on  Pine 
street,  where  she  remained  until  the  time  ap 
pointed  for  the  visit  of  Chalmer  Grose.  He 
had  received  her  note,  which  read: 

"  FRIDAY,  12  M. 
"Ms.  CHALMER  GROSE: — 

"  Please  accept  my  regrets  at  not  meet 
ing  you  this  evening,  and  my  assurances  that 
your  appointed  time  is  agreeable  to  me. 
"  Sincerely  yours, 

"  SERALTHA  AMES." 


SERALTHA.  77 

That  there  were  suggestions  lurking  within 
the  sentences,  which  were  not  agreeable  to  the 
desires  of  Chalmer  Grose,  was  shown  by  his  im 
patient  treatment  of  the  missive  after  reading 
it.  He  crushed  it  in  his  hand,  together  with 
the  envelope,  and  threw  it  on  the  floor;  pre 
sently  he  picked  up  the  note,  and  restoring  it  to 
its  proper  form,  put  it  into  a  pocket  of  his  waist 
coat.  In  the  evening,  just  before  his  departure 
to  keep  the  appointment  with  Seraltha,  he  again 
read  it. 

A  letter  squares  the  conduct  of  a  man 
toward  a  woman,  when  spoken  words  take  no 
effect.  In  all  her  conversation  at  Monterey, 
Seraltha  gave  evidence  that  she  firmly  adhered 
to  the  path  of  honor;  yet  Chalmer  Grose  had 
not  ceased  to  hope,  that  her  behavior  might 
belie  her  words — she  might  appear  in  the  guise 
of  the  intriguer.  The  written  expression  of 
regret,  although  commonplace,  bore  evidence  of 
character.  But  Seraltha's  note  promised  nothing 
for  the  fortune  he  had  squandered  upon  her. 
He  had  hoped  for  a  response  to  the  suggestions 


78  SERALTHA. 

in  his  note;  when  he  saw  that  they  were  ig 
nored,  he  was  full  of  rage.  What  resulted,  how 
ever,  from  a  careful  reading  of  the  note,  was  a 
belief  in  Seraltha's  integrity.  During  his  visit 
with  her  his  conduct  was  that  of  an  honorable 
suitor. 

When  his  visit  was  ended,  he  went  down  the 
stone  stairway  to  Pine  street.  He  stood  awhile 
at  the  corner  above  the  entrance,  then  turned 
into  the  side  street  and  went  up  the  steep  drive 
way  to  the  barn.  He  then  passed  along  the 
causeway  to  the  rear  porch  of  the  house.  Here  he 
met  Lethe  St.  Pier,  who  conducted  him  into  the 
family  room,  the  door  of  which  she  bolted,  and 
the  two  sat  in  conversation  until  a  late  hour. 

During  the  following  week,  Seraltha  received 
this  letter: 

"WEDNESDAY. 
"DEAR  Miss  SERALTHA: — 

"  My  interests  compel  me  to  spend  a  few 
days  at  mines  owned  by  the  Association  of 
which  I  am  the  President. 


SEKALTHA.  79 

"  The  mountains  are  very  attractive  at  this 
time.  I  should  be  pleased  if  you  could  enjoy 
seeing  them.  A  friend,  who  is  also  interested  in 
mines,  will  go  with  me,  accompanied  by  his 
wife.  We  shall  establish  our  headquarters  at  a 
hotel  in  a  neighboring  city,  and  from  there  make 
occasional  trips  to  the  mines.  My  friend's  wife 
is  excellent  company,  and  will  be  very  much 
pleased  to  act  as  your  chaperon.  I  shall  also 
try  my  best  to  entertain  you.  I  trust  that  you 
will  grant  our  party  the  pleasure  of  your  com 
pany.  I  will  call  upon  you  Saturday  evening, 
and  hope  to  be  favored  with  your  consent. 

"  Sincerely  your  friend, 

"  CHALMER  GROSE." 

Seraltha  received  this  note  an  hour  after  her 
return  from  a  visit  to  her  mother.  She  wore 
the  old  suit  of  blemished  brown,  trimmed  with 
new  furs.  She  had  not  told  her  mother  of  the 
business  in  which  she  was  now  engaged,  but 
left  her  in  the  belief  that  she  was  still  in  service 
as  companion  to  an  invalid  lady  whom  she  had 
attended  during  the  preceding  months;  fearing 
that  her  mother  might  misunderstand  her 


80  SEEALTHA. 

motives  and  spoil  her  chance  of  realizing  her 
aspirations. 

The  visit  to  her  mother,  the  well-worn  attire 
and  the  familiar  scene  of  "The  Mission,"  had 
partially  restored  Seraltha  to  her  former  self. 
The  old  had  not  wholly  approved  of  the  new; 
and  when  she  read  the  letter  of  Chalmer 
Grose,  it  seemed  to  be  rilled  with  impropri 
eties;  but,  when  evening  came,  and  the  worn  at 
tire  was  laid  aside  for  the  ashes-of-roses  gown, 
the  dweller  on  Pine  street  assumed  superiority 
over  the  one  of  "The  Mission,"  and  overcame 
arguments  against  the  acceptance  of  this  invita 
tion.  Lethe's  advice  was  in  the  direction  of 
consent,  which  was  secured  without  the  influ 
ence  of  her  prophecies,  to  the  veracity  of  which 
Seraltha  yielded  an  increasing  faith. 

She  accepted  the  proposal  of  Chalmer  Grose 
on  the  occasion  of  his  appointed  visit,  and, 
preparations  being  duly  made,  the  party  began 
the  journey  in  the  morning  of  the  following 
Monday,  travelling  by  rail. 

The  friend  mentioned  in  the  letter  of  invita- 


SERALTHA.  81 

tion,  and  who  became  one  of  the  party,  had 
formed  an  acquaintance  with  Chalmer  Grose, 
several  years  previous  to  this  time,  under  pecu 
liar  circumstances.  He  was  then  known  about 
town  as  one  of  "  The  Three  "  from  Calaveras. 

In  that  trio  he  was  the  leader.  He  was  taller, 
by  half  a  head,  than  the  others,  they  being  of 
equal  height,  one  distinguished  by  drooping 
shoulders  and  the  other  by  excessive  erectness. 

Their  former  history  is  not  essential  to  the 
purpose  of  this  narrative;  but  within  two  years 
after  their  arrival  at  San  Francisco,  their  triple 
appearance  was  noticed  about  the  saloons.  They 
were  generally  well  dressed,  impudent,  and 
loudly  overestimating  the  character  of  Calave 
ras.  After  a  time  they  appeared  to  prosper, 
and  the  swell  bars — even  that  of  the  Hotel 
Havencourt — were  favored  by  their  patronage. 
They  dressed  alike,  or  nearly  so,  in  striped 
trousers,  black  sack  coats  and  embroidered 
flannel  shirts,  heavy  watch  chains  with  seals, 
high-heeled  boots,  and  low-crowned  white  hats. 
They  habitually  approached  a  saloon  counter 


82  SEBALTHA. 

in  a  certain  order,  the  taller  one  leading  the 
way,  and  the  others  following  in  oblique  file, 
he  of  the  drooping  shoulders  in  the  rear. 

One  evening,  something  transpired  in  the 
Hotel  Havencourt  which  directed  their  activi 
ties  into  different  channels.  They  had  entered 
the  bar-room  in  earnest  conversation,  and  after 
wards  sat  around  the  table  of  a  wine-room  near 
the  bar.  Here  they  were  served  by  the  bar 
keeper,  who  did  not  close  the  door  of  the  room 
when  he  came  out.  Standing  near  the  end  of 
the  bar,  and  awaiting  other  customers,  he  heard 
the  leader,  who  was  called  Hamilton  Tucker, 
saying: 

"  It's  as  easy  as  picking  it  up.  I'll  double  our 
money  before  3  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and, 
Chance  Neely,  if  you  havn't  got  the  sand  to  put 
in  your  share,  draw  it  out  and  I'll  play  mine 
and  Mun's."  Here  the  voice  of  the  speaker 
lowered.  The  barkeeper  then  moved  cautiously 
nearer  to  the  door. 

:<  Hold  on,  Ham;  go  slow  on  your  talk  about 
sand,"  he  heard  Chance  Neely  say.  ""We  have 


SERALTHA.  83 

been  a  good  while  piling  up  that  three  thousand, 
and  we're  adding  something  to  it  'most  every 
day.  It  won't  be  very  long  before  we'll  have 
enough  to  start  a  saloon  on  Market  street;  then 
we  are  'the  People.'  That  is  what  we  was 
working  for  these  four  years;  and  now,  when 
we're  'most  there,  I  don't  believe  in  taking 
chances,  especially  among  men  who  have  got 
dollars  to  our  cents." 

"  They  are  just  the  folks  to  get  in  with," 
asserted  Hamilton  Tucker.  "  They  don't  hug 
their  money.  I  saw — "  here  he  tilted  his  chair 
backward  and  closed  the  door.  The  barkeeper 
could  hear  no  more. 

Two  hours  afterward  the  leader  was  sitting  in 
the  cinch-room  of  the  Hotel  Havencourt,  with 
the  combined  capital  of  "The  Three"  in  his 
pocket  and  upon  the  table  before  him.  His  en 
trance  had  been  easily  effected  and  his  admit 
tance  to  the  game  readily  granted.  The  game 
ended  as  the  gray  light  of  the  morning  crept 
into  the  cinch-room.  When  Hamilton  Tucker 


84  SERALTHA. 

stepped  upon  the  sidewalk  fronting  the  Hotel 
Havencourt,  he  was  heard  to  groan. 

Within  the  following  week,  Chance  Neely  had 
obtained  a  situation  with  a  company  of  private 
detectives,  and  a  month  later  betrayed  the  hid 
ing  place  of  a  former  friend,  who  was  now  under 
the  shadow  of  the  law;  however,  not  before 
"  The  Three  "  had  won  every  dollar  he  had  at 
the  gaming  table.  Munroe  Chase,  whom  Ham 
ilton  Tucker  had  familiarly  called  "  Mun,"  in 
the  meantime,  had  accepted  a  situation  as 
barkeeper  in  an  uptown  saloon  with  the  pay  of 
a  novice.  Hamilton  Tucker  lodged  with  him 
and  partook  of  the  luncheon  spread  in  his  em 
ployer's  saloon  for  the  enticement  of  customers, 
which  favors  the  recipient  shared  with  exceed 
ing  meekness,  frequently  telling  his  former  part 
ner  that  he  was  "  all  broke  up." 

"  You  must  rustle  up  something,"  was  the 
constant  response  of  the  new  barkeeper,  after 
which  Hamilton  Tucker  would  wander  upon  the 
streets. 

These  rambles  often  included  a  visit  to  the 


SERALTHA.  85 

Hotel  Havencourt,  where  he  would  walk  along 
the  corridor  until  the  door  of  the  cinch-room 
came  within  his  sight.  Here  he  would  halt  and, 
for  a  moment,  look  intently  at  the  door,  then 
turn  back,  walk  hastily  out  of  the  hotel  and  re 
sume  his  rambles  on  the  street. 

Upon  one  of  these  occasions,  Chalmer  Grose 
met  him  in  the  corridor,  and,  greeting  him  cor 
dially,  asked  about  his  health  and  enjoyments. 
Chalmer  Grose  was  one  of  the  party  whose  su 
perior  skill  had  brought  disaster  to  "The  Three," 
and  Hamilton  Tucker,  not  being  a  natural  gam 
bler,  although  experienced,  told  him  of  the  re 
sults  of  their  previous  meeting,  and  cheerfully 
accepted  his  sympathy.  The  conversation  in 
the  corridor  resulted  in  his  employment,  at  first 
as  overseer  of  his  employer's  stock  and  stables, 
afterwards  as  special  messenger  to  his  mines 
and  ranch,  and  still  later,  his  fidelity  being  then 
above  suspicion,  as  a  trusted  agent  in  matters 
requiring  secrecy  and  strict  obedience  to  orders. 
It  was  he  who  dropped  the  package  of  gold 
within  the  doorway  of  the  hut  in  the  glen,  hast- 


86  SEBALTHA. 

ening  away  in  the  darkness  to  prevent  recogni 
tion,  and  it  was  he  who  wrote : 

"  Chalmer  Grose  and  Lady," 
"  Hamilton  Tucker  and  Lady," 

upon  the  register  of  the  principal  hotel  in  a 
mountain  city  that  nestled  in  the  shadow  of 
spurs,  upon  the  slopes  of  which  the  mines  of 
the  S.  N.  M.  A.  were  situated. 

The  party  arrived  at  the  mining  town  at 
nine  o'clock  of  the  morning  following  their 
departure  from  San  Francisco.  In  the  hotel 
Chalmer  Grose  found  a  letter  addressed  to  him 
by  the  superintendent  of  a  mine.  This  let 
ter  requested  the  President  to  visit  a  distant 
mine  upon  the  earliest  date  possible,  an  accident 
having  happened  that  placed  much  property  in 
danger  of  loss.  This  news  was  received  by  Chal 
mer  Grose  with  impatience,  for  when  he  finished 
the  reading,  he  struck  his  hand  upon  the  counter 
of  the  hotel  office  with  a  force  that  drew  the 
attention  of  Hamilton  Tucker,  who,  after  escort 
ing  the  ladies  to  the  parlor  and  writing  on  the 
the  register,  had  become  engaged  in  reading 


SERALTHA.  87 

sundry  athletic  and  dramatic  posters  that  hung 
against  the  walls.  He  approached  his  employer, 
who  gave  him  the  letter  to  read. 

"Twenty-two  miles,  and  a  rough  road/'  said 
Hamilton  Tucker,  after  reading;  and,  looking 
out  through  a  window  toward  a  distant  spur  ris 
ing  above  the  others,  he  added:  "  It  will  take 
until  sundown  to  climb  it  with  the  best  team  in 
this  town." 

"  No  accommodations  there  for  the  women?  " 
said  Ghalmer  Grose,  in  a  tone  of  mingled  disap 
pointment  and  inquiry. 

"  Not  a  bunk  on  the  slope,  except  in  the  mi 
ners'  corral/'  the  other  replied. 

After  a  consultation,  they  went  to  the  parlor 
and  informed  Seraltha  and  her  chaperon  of  the 
summons  to  the  distant  mine,  and  that  their 
absence  in  response  to  it  would  be  continued  to 
the  late  afternoon  of  the  next  day.  They  also 
suggested  methods  of  entertainment  until  they 
should  return.  Seraltha  expressed  much  regret, 
but  noticed  that  her  chaperon  received  the 
information  and  suggestions  with  indifference. 


88  SERALTHA. 

This  was  also  remarked  by  Hamilton  Tucker, 
who  called  her  aside  and  conversed  with  her  in 
an  undertone. 

After  a  hasty  breakfast,  Chalmer  Grose  and 
Hamilton  Tucker  started  upon  their  trip  to  the 
mine  in  an  open  mountain  wagon,  behind  a 
team  of  black  roadsters.  The  driver,  who  was 
muscular  and  florid,  pushed  a  heavy  pine  box 
under  his  seat  just  before  he  mounted. 

Seraltha  and  her  chaperon  had  occupied  a 
drawing-room  of  the  sleeping  car  in  which  the 
party  rode  to  the  mountain  city.  Their  journey 
had  consumed  the  time  of  a  day  and  the  suc 
ceeding  night.  The  two  men,  whose  berths  were 
in  the  open  part  of  the  car,  had  given  gallant 
attention  to  their  entertainment  throughout  the 
day,  and  bade  them  good  night  at  an  early  hour 
of  the  evening,  retiring  to  the  smoking-room  for 
the  enjoyment  of  cigars  and  chats  with  travel 
ing  acquaintances.  Shut  away  from  other  com 
panionship  in  the  seclusion  of  the  drawing- 
room,  each  woman  spread  the  meshes  of  in 
quiry  by  which  to  snare  the  character  of  the 


SERALTHA.  89 

other.  In  this  the  elder  manifested  rare  skill. 
She  was  several  years  older  than  Hamilton 
Tucker — Seraltha  had  noticed  the  disparity  of 
ages — and  slightly  wrinkled  about  the  corners 
of  her  dark  gray  eyes.  Faint  tracings  appeared 
also  upon  the  curves  of  her  full  lips,  and  over 
her  broad  dimpled  chin.  Closer  observation 
showed  similar  lines  shadowed  by  soft  black 
hair,  that  pointed  upon  the  middle  of  a  low  fore 
head  and  receded  in  heavy  waves  over  either 
side,  sharply  contrasting  with  the  creamy  white 
ness  of  her  face  and  neck,  which  was,  at  times, 
relieved  by  a  slight  flush  spreading  across  her 
cheeks.  In  conversation  the  outlines  of  her 
rounded  form  moved  in  sympathy  with  her 
speech  and  seemed  to  hold  caresses  in  waiting. 

She  had  won  Seraltha's  admiration  during 
the  day.  An  hour  of  exclusive  companionship 
in  the  drawing-room  was  sufficient  to  secure  her 
confidence,  and,  artfully  prompted  by  speech 
and  gesture,  Seraltha  told,  at  first  of  Monterey, 
of  its  beauties,  and  of  the  grand  reception,  then 
of  her  aspirations  to  become  one  of  those  who 


90  SERALTHA. 

might  dwell  in  higher  places  without  fear  of 
overthrow.  While  speaking  of  Monterey,  the 
contrast — "  The  Mission  " — came  to  her  thought, 
and  Seraltha  told  of  childhood's  poverty;  of  girl 
hood  struggles  to  endow  herself  with  decent  at 
tire  and  provide  for  mental  needs;  of  uncouth 
neighbors,  primed  in  boorish  narrative;  of  un 
congenial  suitors,  striving  to  win  an  unwillng 
bride  and  perpetuate  her  discontent.  Her  con 
fidence  increasing  with  its  overflow,  she  told  of 
Chalmer  Grose,  of  his  growing  love  and  admira 
tion,  and  insinuating  that  her  youth  and  beauty 
were  but  an  even  compensation  for  the  higher 
place  in  life  that  he  could  give  to  her. 

To  Seraltha's  later  confidences  her  companion 
had  made  no  response,  and  now  she  silently 
began  her  preparations  for  retiring.  When  both 
were  in  their  berths,  Seraltha  said  to  her  com 
panion  : 

"  Good-night,  Mrs.  Tucker!" 

"  Not  that !  Call  me  Hermina,  always !  Good 
night!  I  must  sleep,"  was  the  response  from 
the  opposite  berth. 


SEBALTHA.  91 

Was  it  a  groan  of  the  engine,  toiling  around 
the  curves  on  the  steep  grade  of  the  mountain 
gorge;  or  was  it  a  breath  of  the  night  wind 
sweeping  down  through  the  pines  above  upon 
the  moving  train?  A  low  sound,  not  of  the 
rumbling  wheels,  nor  of  the  grinding  brakes, 
filled  the  air  in  the  drawing-room  of  the  sleep 
ing  car,  and  moaned,  and  moaned. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PORTION  of  the  canyon  through  which 
Chalmer  Grose  must  pass,  to  approach 
the  mine  designated  in  the  letter  of  the  Super 
intendent,  presented  scenery  remarkable  for  di 
versity.  The  entrance  opened  toward  the  city 
from  the  east,  presenting  to  the  yiew  an  expanse 
of  pasture  land,  narrowing  to  a  distant  point 
against  pine-covered  peaks.  It  was  interspersed 
with  groups  of  low  trees  and  strips  of  chaparral 
that  bent  around  the  curves  of  a  mountain 
stream,  lining  the  roadway  from  its  source  near 
the  mine  to  the  principal  street  of  the  city.  Be 
yond  the  peaks  a  narrow,  precipitous  pass  sprang 
upward,  opening  into  a  plateau  covered  with 
boulders  of  fantastic  shapes  and  variegated  tints, 
the  plateau,  surrounded  by  receding  cliffs,  ter 
raced  to  the  mists  that  crept  over  their  verdure- 
less  summits.  The  mingled  stream  and  road 
way  led  through  this  wilderness  to  another  nar- 

(92) 


SEKALTHA.  93 

row  pass  leading  upward  to  the  banks  of  a  small, 
oblong  lake,  confined  by  the  masonry  of  nature 
and  bordered  by  groves  of  pine  that  mounted 
the  slopes  upon  either  side. 

Beyond,  the  roadway  made  a  sharp  ascent 
against  the  face  of  a  cliff,  winding  around  its 
projection  and  reaching  an  altitude  of  three 
hundred  feet.  Beneath  that  point,  a  series  of 
rapids  and  waterfalls,  with  alternating  plunge 
and  rush,  foamed  down  the  deep,  narrow  gorge 
that  gradually  widened  in  its  descent,  and  in 
which,  their  tops  brushing  against  the  narrow 
roadway,  grew  pine  and  other  large  trees.  Be 
yond  these  cascades  the  canyon  opened  into  a 
broad  plain,  shaded  by  oak  and  chaparral.  Cat 
tle  grazed  about  and  upon  the  edge  of  the  upper 
slope  of  the  plain. 

Near  a  gorge  opening  to  the  heights  above 
stood  a  log  house,  long  and  low,  with  out-houses 
in  the  rear.  This  house  marked  the  half-way 
point  between  the  city  and  the  mine;  in  it  the 
traveler  found  rude  comforts  and  fiery  liquors. 
Stories  were  told  in  the  city  of  dark  deeds  per- 


94  SEEALTHA. 

petrated  hereabout  in  earlier  days;  but  no  evi 
dence  of  them  now  remained. 

A  heavy  grade,  ascending  over  a  stony  road 
strewn  with  fragments  of  ore  that  were  shaken 
from  the  carts  on  their  way  to  smelters  in  the 
city,  was  the  only  feature  that  attracted  the  at 
tention  of  the  traveler  after  leaving  the  range 
house;  and  this  rose  before  him  with  increasing 
steepness  to  the  entrance  of  the  mine. 

Chalmer  Grose  and  his  companion  arrived 
at  the  mine  just  as  the  pines  were  merging  into 
the  twilight  shadows  of  the  peaks.  After  sup 
per  and  a  long  consultation  with  the  Superin 
tendent,  they  accepted  the  miner's  accommoda 
tions  for  the  night.  The  driver  spread  blankets 
upon  the  bed  of  the  mountain  wagon,  and,  after 
many  visits  to  the  pine  box,  drew  the  canvas 
aprons  of  the  seats  over  himself  and  slept  until 
aroused  at  1 1  o'clock  the  next  day  by  Hamilton 
Tucker,  who,  with  Chalmer  Grose,  had  made  an 
examination  of  the  mine,  and  who  now  ordered 
the  driver  to  have  the  team  ready  within  an 
hour  for  a  return  to  the  city.  The  driver's  prep- 


SERALTHA.  95 

arations  for  the  journey  included  frequent  visits 
to  the  pine  box,  and  immediately  after  their 
dinner  the  party  began  a  rapid  descent  of  the 
mountain. 

After  the  departure  of  Chalmer  Grose  and  his 
companion  from  the  hotel,  the  ladies  took  joint 
possession  of  one  of  the  two  suites  of  rooms  re 
served  for  the  party.  Hermina  said: 

"  I  am  unhappy;  let  us  drive." 

Driving  in  company  was  one  of  the  methods 
suggested  by  Chalmer  Grose  for  their  entertain 
ment  during  his  absence.  He  had  also  told 
them  to  select  a  steady  horse,  and  to  avoid  dan 
gerous  routes. 

An  hour  later,  Hermina  and  Seraltha,  the  for 
mer  holding  the  reins,  were  seated  in  a  phaeton 
drawn  by  a  spirited  horse.  Turning  from  a 
street,  Hermina  drove  into  the  roadway  leading 
to  the  mine.  Seraltha  had  strongly  protested 
against  the  use  of  this  horse,  for  Hermina  was 
a  reckless  driver,  and  even  now  was  driving 
with  unusual  speed.  Seraltha  urged  her  to  rein 
in  the  horse;  but  Hermina,  her  cheeks  reddened 


96  SEBALTHA. 

by  the  wind,  and  her  eyes  lustrous  with  excite 
ment,  cried: 

"If  he  could  fly  it  would  be  better  for  us — for 
you!  I  would  turn  him  from  the  mountains  to 
ward  the  ocean,  and  guide  him  to  its  most 
furious  storms,  that  we  might  perish." 

Seeing  alarm  depicted  in  Seraltha's  face, 
caused  by  those  desperate  words,  Hermina  has 
tened  to  say: 

"  Never  fear;  there  is  no  danger.  I  am  only 
despondent,  and  would  fly  away  from  it.  I  have 
driven  him  often  and  far  up  this  canyon.  My 
own  despondency  dictated  the  words  I  uttered 
awhile  ago.  This  canyon  is  an  imagery  of 
my  life,  and  may  be  of  your  future.  All  that 
you  now  see  is  beautiful;  the  city  with  its 
pleasures,  over  there;  here  about  us,  and  up  to 
yonder  peaks,  rich  verdure,  flowers  and  spark 
ling  stream;  beyond — well,  go  with  me.  Be  not 
afraid.  You  will  be  in  little  danger.  Few 
women  die  when  they  should." 

They  were  now  midway  between  the  city  and 
the  point  of  verdure  that  disappeared  against 


SERALTHA.  97 

the  peaks.  The  horse  had  slowed  his  pace  to  a 
steady  amble  as  the  phaeton  ascended  the 
grade. 

"  I  was  assured,"  responded  Seraltha,  "  that 
this  was  to  be  a  pleasure  trip,  and  that  you — 
you  are  so  different  from  'your  ways  of  yester 
day,  Mrs. — Hermina — and — " 

"  And,  you  are  not  what  I  supposed  you  to 
be.  Seraltha,  you  are  a  good  woman  I  How 
long  have  you  known  him  ?  " 

The  question  expressed  by  the  grey  eyes  of 
Hermina  was  more  potent  to  compel  an  answer, 
as  they  looked  steadily  into  Seraltha's  face,  than 
the  words  from  her  lips.  "  How  long  have  you 
known  him  ?  "  the  eyes  asked. 

"  Not  a  month,"  answered  Seraltha. 

A  painful  heat  entered  her  body  and  crept 
upward,  burning  her  cheeks  and  ears. 

"  And  that  time  has  been  pleasant,  like  the 
scenery  below  and  about  us  ? "  the  eyes  in 
quired  again. 

"  Yes,"  answered  Seraltha. 


98  SEKALTHA. 

"  Filled  also  with  anticipations  of  a  beautiful 
future,  charming  as  the  view  before  us?  ' 

Seraltha's  eyes  were  now  turned  toward  the 
landscape,  directed  from  point  to  point.  Her- 
mina's  queries  displeased  her,  for  she  fancied 
that  they  bore  an  undertone  of  sarcasm.  The 
grey  eyes  could  not  look  into  her  face,  and  she 
made  no  response. 

After  a  long  silence,  during  which  they  had 
arrived  near  the  precipitous  pass  beyond  the 
peaks,  and  could  hear  the  stream  rushing  over 
the  flinty  roadway,  Hermina  said: 

"  The  beauties  below  are  yours.  They  were 
mine.  I  have  known  him  seven  years." 

They  had  reached  the  Pass.  The  horse 
tossed  his  head  as  if  assenting  to  the  task 
before  him,  and  hastened  up  the  declivity,  giv 
ing  no  heed  to  the  foaming  water  by  his  side 
and  about  his  feet.  Seraltha  shrunk  close  to 
Hermina  during  the  ascent,  and  closer  when 
they  reached  the  height  and  she  looked  upon 
the  tinted  desolation  of  the  rocky  plateau,  and 


SERALTHA.  99 

upward   toward   the  mist   that  hung  over  the 
receding  cliff  above. 

"  A  wilderness  like  this  is  now  in  my  soul," 
said  Hermina. 

She  turned  the  horse  upon  a  broad,  flat  rock 
that  underlaid  the  stream,  and  extended  beyond 
its  edge  with  a  gentle  upward  slope.  Serai tha 
moved  away  from  her,  and  made  no  response. 
Hermina  pointed  toward  a  group  of  rocks  rest 
ing  each  against  the  other  and  against  the  base 
of  the  distant  cliff  upon  her  right,  and  resumed: 

"  That  seems  a  grotto,  its  face  festooned  with 
broad  tinted  ribbons  of  lilac  and  saffron.  With 
in  is  spread  a  couch,  its  canopy  of  sapphire,  its 
yellow  coverlet  dropping  thick  folds  on  emerald 
rugs.  It  seems  a  place  of  warmth  and  beauty, 
its  stillness  inviting  and  tranquilizing.  I  went 
there  once  and  stood  within  that  grotto.  I  sat 
upon  the  couch.  The  tinted  ribbons  that  fes 
toon  its  face  are  dull  crumbling  flakes  of  rotting 
stone,  the  sapphire  canopy  a  dingy  rock,  and 
the  yellow  coverlet  a  damp  sand  heap  beyond  a 
slimy  pool  in  which  newts  glide  hither  and 


100  SERALTHA. 

thither.  Ah!  dear;  distance  beguiles  the  view! 
Thus  all  my  pleasures  hoped  for  proved  illu 
sory." 

Failing  to  interpret  her  meaning,  Seraltha 
said: 

"  Do  you  love  him  ?  "  and  impetuously  con 
tinued:  "You  have  no  right  to  that.  You 
should  be  unhappy.  You  should  love  your  hus 
band." 

"  Hush  !  he  is  my  husband  in  name  only. 
He  married  me  for  gold,  and  I — I  was  to  be  cast 
aside  by  Chalmer  Grose;  yet  he  gave  a  trine 
from  his  wealth,  so  that  I  might  be  called  'wife' 
instead  of  'wanton.'  He  purchased  a  husband 
for  me.  Seraltha,  do  you  comprehend  ?  " 

To  Seraltha  the  receding  cliffs  seemed  slowly 
closing  above,  overhanging  and  about  to  fall; 
the  rocks  upon  the  plateau  drew  near  around 
her,  and  flashed  tints  in  kaleidoscopic  circles 
within  her  darkening  vision.  The  gasping 
breath  and  the  hands  reaching  toward  the  water 
splashing  by  them,  told  Hermina  that  she  was 
understood.  But,  when  Seraltha  began  to  rea- 


SERALTHA.  101 

son  upon  what  she  heard,  doubts  regarding  the 
integrity  of  her  companion  came  to  her. 

Few  women  give  another  one  credit  for  hon 
esty  of  purpose  in  that  information  which  dis 
turbs  ambition;  inexperienced  women  never  do. 
The  conceit  of  knowledge  from  the  promptings 
of  that  favored  deceiver,  intuition,  blinds  argu 
ment  and  wrecks  their  judgment.  Facts  become 
fallacies,  and  advice  impertinence.  Yet  she  lis 
tened  while  Hermina  continued: 

"  I  will  tell  you — but  first  let  us  leave  this 
hideous  place." 

She  turned  the  horse  upon  the  flat  stone,  and, 
driving  through  the  plateau,  stopped  at  the 
oblong  lake.  The  beauties  of  this  mountain 
gem  were  unnoticed  by  them.  The  sparkling 
water  reflected  light  that  deepened  the  faint 
wrinkles  upon  Hermina's  face,  and  there  were 
tears  in  her  eyes,  when  she  turned  toward  Ser- 
altha. 

"  My  life  was  like  yours  before  I  met  him," 
she  said.  "  When  you  unveiled  your  life  and 
aspirations  to  me  in  the  sleeping-car,  I  saw 


102  SEBALTHA. 

myself  in  the  purity  of  girlhood,  beset  by  all 
the  dangers  which,  unavoided,  have  made  my 
life  like  the  hideous  place  behind  us.  We,  who 
were  born  in  lowly  homes,  and  endowed  only 
with  health  and  beauty,  yet  having  the  benefits 
of  education,  tread  the  hunting  grounds  of  de 
signing  men.  We  are  sought,  we  know  not  why, 
until  we  have  been  ensnared.  We  exemplify 
a  fable.  We  are  yet  of  the  pheasant  while  we 
trill  the  notes  of  the  nightingale.  '  Be  cautious ! ' 
our  parents  call  to  us.  But  where  is  the  dan 
ger  ?  Flowers  seem  to  cover  the  pathway;  but 
they  overhang  pitfalls  and  smile  alluringly. 
Do  they  tell  us  who  would  make  us  their  prey? 
With  kindly  words  they  lure  us  along  pleasant 
paths  to  our  doom.  Just  where  you  are  I  was, 
seven  years  ago." 

The  tears  increased  their  flow  as  she  uttered 
the  last  sentence.  She  bent  her  face  over  her 
lap,  and  they  fell  fast  upon  the  carriage  robe. 
A  gust  from  the  mountain  breeze  swept  over  the 
cliffs,  and  dropped  through  the  pines  about  the 
tiny  lake,  bearing  a  sigh  over  its  ruffled  surface 


SERALTHA.  103 

that  breathed  the  heartaches  of  seven  shameful 
years. 

When  in  the  sleeping-car  Seraltha  had  an 
irresistible  desire  to  speak  of  all  within  her  heart. 
She  now  felt  the  same  potency  of  command  from 
the  despairing  woman,  who  bent  her  head  over 
the  carriage  robe  and,  without  speech,  demanded 
silence;  yet,  within  her  being,  she  felt  the  im 
pulse,  born  when  the  world  was  young,  to  pour 
blame  upon  a  woman's  weakness  even  at  a  time 
when  she  was  struggling  in  the  agonies  of  mem 
ory.  Had  Hermina  looked  into  the  violet  eyes 
of  her  companion  at  this  instant  she  would  have 
seen  resentment  and  condemnation;  and,  had 
she  asked  for  sympathy,  she  would  have  heard 
the  unjust  words  with  which  women  have  ago 
nized  the  souls  of  their  sister  women  through 
the  ages:  "  You  tempted  him." 

"When  the  tears  had  brought  relief,  Hermina 
raised  her  head  and  continued:  "  I  had  finished 
my  studies  at  an  academy.  My  father  had  toiled 
and  my  mother  saved,  so  that  I  might  remain 
to  the  end  of  the  course.  Soon  afterward  I  met 


104  SEBALTHA. 

him — Chalmer  Grose.  Where  I  should  have  re 
sented,  I  forgave;  and  where  I  should  have  re 
fused,  I  assented.  The  reputation  of  sin  was 
upon  me,  while  I  was  yet  pure.  It  is  but  a  step 
from  disrepute  to  impurity — one  suggests  the 
other.  I  took  that  course,  and  you  may." 

Seraltha  grasped  the  arm  of  her  companion 
and  angrily  exclaimed:  "I  have  honor,  Mrs. 
Tucker!  No,  this  is  a  word  you  could  not  say. 
This  word  is  a  woman's  shield." 

Hermina  earnestly  responded: 

"  Men  seek  to  break  this  shield.  But  there 
is  another,  word  of  mighty  power,  the  definition 
of  which  is  not  in  language,  but  in  the  soul  of 
her  who  hears,  and  of  him  who  speaks  it.  In 
her  it  may  be  glorified  with  a  heavenly  mean 
ing;  by  him  it  may  be  spoken  in  lust;  yet,  when 
he  utters  this  word,  her  soul  reads  its  own  tab 
lets,  and  while  it  reads,  her  shield  is  broken  and 
her  weapon  turned  aside.  This  word  is — Love." 

The  force  of  these  sentences  was  lost  upon 
Seraltha,  whose  heart  had  hardened  against  the 
one  whom  she  now  believed  to  be  a  weakling 


SEBALTHA.  105 

attempting  to  discourage  an  ambition  which  she 
herself  had  failed  to  gratify.  Yet  Serai tha  made 
no  response.  She  released  Hermina's  arm  and 
reclined  against  the  cushioned  back  of  the  phae 
ton  seat.  Absorbed  in  thoughts  of  the  past, 
Hermina  continued,  still  looking  upon  the  lake : 

"  After  defeat,  the  flowers  never  smile,  the 
fields  are  never  beautiful  and  the  forests  are 
ever  gloomy.  The  humble  home,  once  despised, 

now  seems  to  have  been  a  paradise,  and" 

A  movement  of  her  companion  caused  Hermina 
to  look  toward  her. 

Fully  impressed  with  a  belief  that  weakness 
of  purpose  was  the  cause  of  Hermina's  downfall, 
and  that  her  present  intentions  were  to  turn 
aside  one  who  might  win  a  husband  where  she 
had  failed,  Seraltha  determined  to  close  a  con 
versation  that  had  become  annoying  to  her. 

The  movement  that  drew  Hermina's  attention 
was  a  sudden  straightening  of  Seraltha's  body 
from  its  reclining  position  to  one  of  rigid  up 
rightness,  facing  toward  her.  What  Hermina 
saw,  when  she  turned  her  head,  were  violet  eyes, 


106  SEEALTHA. 

deepening  in  hue  while  she  looked  upon  them, 
and  a  white  face  expressing  a  mingling  of  pity 
and  determination.  She  had  spoken  as  to  a 
confiding  girl,  hut  now  a  woman  confronted  her 
with  visible  self-reliance,  and  no  words  were 
needed  to  know  her  wishes. 

Hermina  quickly  gathered  the  reins  and 
turned  the  horse  on  the  road.  She  drove  care 
fully  across  the  rocky  plateau  and  down  the  pre 
cipitous  pass,  but  when  they  had  entered  the 
grassy  opening  of  the  canyon  she  drew  the  reins 
tightly  and  urged  the  horse  to  his  utmost  speed. 
Seraltha  looked  apprehensively  at  the  speeding 
animal  until  within  sight  of  the  hotel  and  heaved 
a  sigh  of  relief  as  she  stepped  from  the  phaeton. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

BROKEN  tire  was  seen  by  Hamilton 
Tucker  to  be  slipping  away  from  one 
of  the  forward  wheels  of  the  mountain  wagon, 
and  before  he  could  make  the  driver  halt  it 
escaped  from  its  place  and  rolled  down  the 
steep  grade  of  the  stony  road,  just  beyond  the 
log  house  of  the  cattle  range.  Chalmer  Grose 
had  urged  the  driver  to  increasing  speed  seve 
ral  times  during  the  descent  from  the  mine,  and 
when  the  log  house  came  in  view  this  speed  had 
reached  the  danger  point.  The  driver,  who 
seemed  to  share  the  impatience  of  his  passen 
ger,  was  quite  careless  in  his  driving,  for  the 
wheels  had  struck  several  projecting  rocks. 

The  tire  and  the  wagon  came  to  a  full  stop, 
the  one  from  striking  against  one  of  these  pro 
jections,  the  other  from  the  efforts  of  Hamilton 
Tucker,  who  shot  his  full  length  over  the  driver 
and  pushed  the  foot-brake  taut  with  his  hand. 

(107) 


108  SERALTHA. 

Chalmer  Grose,  in  the  meantime — the  noise 
from  the  clattering  tire  having  warned  him  of 
the  situation — kept  his  position  by  grasping  the 
seat  with  both  hands. 

When  the  team  was  brought  to  a  halt,  Ham 
ilton  Tucker  clambered  out  to  make  a  survey  of 
the  damages.  The  wheel  was  not  broken,  but  it 
could  not  be  used  until  the  tire  was  welded  and 
re-set.  He  solved  this  problem  after  a  visit  to 
the  log  house  below.  Having  discovered  tools 
in  one  of  the  out-houses  he  went  to  the  dwelling 
for  assistance;  but  a  woman,  who  appeared  at 
the  door,  informed  him  that  all  the  men  of  the 
range  had  gone  to  the  city.  He  had  often  wit 
nessed  the  operation  of  setting  tires,  the  woman 
readily  granted  permission  to  use  the  appliances 
on  the  place,  besides  extending  an  invitation  to 
partake  of  the  contents  of  any  of  the  bottles  that 
he  saw  in  rows  upon  shelves  behind  a  rude 
counter.  Declining  the  latter  courtesy,  he  re 
turned  to  the  scene  of  the  accident,  and  with 
cheering  words  directed  the  drawing  of  the 
wagon  to  the  shop.  By  the  combined  efforts  of 


SERALTHA.  109 

the  three  travelers  the  tire  was  firmly  set,  Ham 
ilton  Tucker  performing  the  more  difficult  part 
of  the  work.  "  I  am  a  natural  blacksmith,"  he 
asserted  with  pride,  striking  the  set  tire  a  sharp 
rap  with  the  hammer. 

The  travelers  then  took  their  places  in  the 
wagon  and  the  willing  team  sped  down  the 
smooth  road  of  the  oak-dotted  plain.  It  was 
evident  that  the  will  of  the  driver  was  in  har 
mony  with  the  desire  of  his  passengers  to  reach 
the  city  before  sunset,  for  he  constantly  urged 
the  horses  to  greater  speed.  During  the  time 
in  which  the  repairs  were  being  made,  he  had 
frequently  refreshed  himself  from  the  bottles  on 
the  shelves  behind  the  counter  in  the  house. 

An  hour  before  sunset  Seraltha  Ames,  who 
was  on  an  upper  balcon}r  of  the  hotel,  looking 
out  over  the  opening  of  the  canyon,  saw  an  ob 
ject  come  forth  from  the  shadow  of  the  peaks 
near  the  precipitous  pass  and  slowly  advance 
toward  the  city.  Although  the  nature  of  this 
object  was  not  discernible,  because  of  the  dis 
tance,  she  observed  that  it  did  not  keep  to  the 


110  SEP.ALTHA. 

roadway,  but  advanced  in  a  direct  line.  It 
came  down  the  opening  and  disappeared  among 
the  groups  of  low  trees  that  thickly  dotted  the 
side  of  the  canyon.  She  again  gave  attention 
to  the  point  of  verdure  narrowing  to  the  Pass. 

Her  association  with  Hermina  had  become 
wearisome.  This  seemed  to  be  mutual,  for  Her 
mina  had  found  an  interesting  book  and  was 
now  reclining  on  a  sofa  in  her  chamber,  engaged 
in  reading  it.  Seraltha  had  at  first  gone  out  to 
the  balcony  of  the  floor  upon  which  their  suite 
was  situated  and  noticed  the  people  passing  in 
the  street.  Tiring  of  this,  she  went  to  the  high 
est  balcony,  where  she  obtained  a  full  view  of 
the  opening  to  the  canyon,  and  hoped  for  the 
appearance  of  Chalmer  Grose  and  his  party. 

Her  thoughts,  while  waiting  and  watching, 
dwelt  upon  Monterey  and  the  reception,  upon 
the  house  on  Pine  street  and  its  pleasant  par 
lors.  She  then,  in  thought,  saw  a  palace  upon 
a  western  hill  of  San  Francisco,  overlooking  the 
ocean  and  the  bay,  and  splendid  as  the  home  of 
a  princess.  This  surely  could  be,  her  thoughts 


SERALTHA.  Ill 

declared;  for  the  man  who  was  coining  toward 
her  from  the  mountains  had  the  power  to  create, 
even  more  marvelous  than  the  structure  of  her 
reverie.  If  he  loved  her  this  would  be.  He  must 
love;  it  could  not  be  otherwise.  She  was  pure 
— no  man  had  ever  touched  her  lips;  beautiful, 
surpassing  any  at  Monterey;  youthful — Her- 
mina's  words  flashed  into  her  thoughts:  "By 
him  it  may  be  spoken  in  lust."  She  put  her 
whole  being  against  the  thought;  her  soul  re 
pelled  it;  her  reason  seized  it  and  pushed  it  out. 
"  She  could  love  him."  No  doubts  mingled 
with  this  thought.  "  A  woman  would  be  less 
than  her  sex  who  could  not  love  the  man  who 
delivered  her  from  the  weariness  of  poverty  to 
the  animation  of " 

The  thought  was  never  completed.  She 
sprang  from  her  seat,  and,  placing  both  hands 
upon  a  rail  of  the  balustrade,  she  bent  far  for 
ward  to  bring  her  eyes  nearer  to  what  she  now 
plainly  saw  moving  upon  the  roadway,  far  down 
the  opening  of  the  canyon. 

A   half    hour   had   passed    since   the   object 


112  SEKALTHA. 

which  she  had  been  unable  to  define  disappeared 
among  the  trees.  During  that  time  it  had 
moved  unseen,  coming  suddenly  into  view  from 
behind  a  long  strip  of  chaparral  that  stood  half 
way  between  the  hotel  and  the  peaks,  one  mile 
from  either.  The  sinking  sun  now  threw  its 
rays  upon  the  object,  which  at  first  appeared  a 
glistening  black;  but  as  it  moved  upon  a  curve 
of  the  roadway,  shimmering  bands  of  crimson 
mingled  with  the  black  in  flashing  contrast. 
Sometimes  it  wavered,  as  if  about  to  fall,  and 
again  advanced  vigorously,  then  retarded  its 
movements,  but  always  appeared  as  if  stum 
bling  or  hobbling.  As  it  approached  nearer, 
something  that  seemed  to  be  a  burden  showed 
upon  its  back,  secured  by  heavy  bands.  Nearer, 
the  heavy  bands  dragged  their  ends  upon  the 
ground,  and  the  crimson  deepened  in  the  rays 
of  the  setting  sun. 

There  are  things  that  shut  the  light  from  the 
eyes  of  the  strongest  women. 

The  woman  in  the  balcony  covered  her  face 
with  her  hands,  reeled,  and  fell  to  the  floor. 


SEKALTHA.  113 

No  one  was  near  to  aid  her;  but  she  soon  re 
vived,  so  that  she  was  able  to  walk.  Slowly  she 
left  the  place  and  went  down  the  stairway  to 
the  chamber  in  which  Hermina  was  reading. 
She  touched  her  upon  the  shoulder.  Hermina 
looked  up  and  saw  a  face  ghastly  in  its  pallor 
and  white  lips  moving  in  stifled  speech.  The 
only  words  audible  were:  "  The  horse!  "  Seral- 
tha  repeated  the  words  and  then  turned  away  as 
if  dazed  or  stunned,  yet  conscious  that  Hermina 
could  not  comprehend.  She  groped  her  way  to 
the  office  of  the  hotel. 

Men  had  gathered  there  after  business  hours, 
who  were  laughing  and  chatting.  She  walked 
among  them  and  the  room  became  silent. 

" The  horse!  the  horse!"  she  exclaimed  with 
stifled  voice.  The  men  looked  at  her  in  aston 
ishment.  No  one  responded.  Her  white  lips 
moved  in  other  speech,  but  "The  horse!  the 
horse!  "  were  the  only  words  they  heard.  Sud 
denly,  with  hands  upraised  and  sight  straining 
out  through  a  window,  she  again  reeled  and  fell 
to  the  floor.  The  sound  of  footsteps  hastening 


114:  SERALTHA. 

along  the  sidewalk  drew  attention  from  her  to 
the  street,  and  there  a  story  of  calamity  was  read 
at  a  glance. 

A  black  horse  of  the  team  that  went  up  the 
canyon  in  the  morning  of  the  previous  day  hob 
bled  slowly  along  the  pavement  of  the  street  to 
ward  the  stables  of  the  hotel.  Cruel  gashes, 
bordered  by  deeper  scarlet,  seamed  his  glossy 
blackness.  A  thick  pine  branch  had  driven  its 
splintered  end  under  his  collar,  piercing  the 
arch  of  his  neck  and  holding  its  green  boughs 
over  his  back.  The  broad  leather  traces  dragged 
upon  the  ground. 

"The  Cascades!"  exclaimed  a  hostler,  who 
met  the  wounded  horse  at  the  entrance  of  the 
stables.  "The  Cascades!"  echoed  a  voice  far 
back  in  the  crowd  that  had  pressed  around  him. 
"The  Cascades!  The  Cascades!"  was  shouted 
along  the  street  and  into  the  office  of  the  hotel. 

"The  Cascades?"  gasped  Seraltha,  as  men 
raised  her  from  the  floor  and  supported  her  to 
a  seat.  She  repeated  the  words  in  response  to 
the  voices  in  the  street;  then,  looking  among 


SEKALTHA.  115 

the  faces  of  those  who  had  gathered  about  her. 
from  one  to  another,  she  asked,  pleadingly,  "  Is 
it  a  dreadful  place?  The  horse!  Will  he  die? 
Can  nothing  live  that — that —  ?  Is  it  very  deep  ? 
Is  it  water?  Is  it  rock?  The  Cascades!  Can 
no  one  escape?  Is  he  " — her  head  bent  forward 
and  through  the  trembling  hands  that  now  cov 
ered  her  face  tears  fell,  and  a  smothered  word 
struggled  out  with  them — "  dead?" 

The  faces  made  no  response,  but  sympathetic 
hands  aided  her  to  her  chamber,  where  she  asked 
to  be  left  alone. 

No  sound  of  voices  on  the  street  had  reached 
the  seclusion  of  Hermina's  chamber.  She  con 
tinued  to  read,  fully  interested  in  the  pleasing 
book. 

The  hasty  work  of  the  stablemen  had  brought 
before  the  entrance  of  the  hotel  two  sturdy  teams 
attached  to  mountain  wagons,  like  that  in  which 
Chalmer  Grose  had  driven  to  the  mine,  except 
that  one  was  longer.  From  this  the  two  hind 
most  seats  had  been  removed,  and  blankets,  mat 
tresses  and  straw  filled  the  box.  The  driver  had 


116  SERALTHA. 

brought  lanterns  from  the  stables  and  hung 
them  against  his  seat.  The  driver  of  the  other 
wagon  took  cases,  packages  and  splints  from 
two  surgeons  who  stood  upon  the  sidewalk,  and 
who  immediately  afterward  put  on  heavy  over 
coats  and  hastily  climbed  to  the  seat  behind 
him. 

The  two  sturdy  teams  galloped  swiftly  toward 
the  opening  of  the  canyon,  men  on  horseback 
competing  in  the  race.  The  clatter  of  hoofs  and 
the  crack  of  the  drivers'  whips  sounded  fainter 
and  fainter  in  the  distance,  and  then  all  was  still 
about  the  hotel — still  as  the  chamber  where  a 
woman  wept  silently. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

awaited  beside  a  pleasant  home  in 
Santa  Rosa,  to  enter  and  touch  the  wife 
of  Abel  Hyman.  A  husband's  strong  arm  was 
already  drawing  her  face  to  his,  so  that  he  might 
hear  her  whispered  words.  His  great  heart  gave 
solace  in  words  of  strength  and  hope;  hope  to 
her  that  she  might  recover,  as  she  had  done  be 
fore;  words  of  strength  that  he  might  himself 
hear,  for  aid  to  hold  the  wailings  of  sorrow  that 
filled  his  soul,  to  keep  them  there  until  a  time 
when  she  could  not  hear. 

Death  came  and  stayed  her  breath  while  these 
faltering  words  were  still  upon  her  lips : 

"  Seraltha — love  her — and  " — 

Abel  Hyman  was  alone. 

His  wife  had  been  an  invalid  for  many  years, 
and  had  often  approached  very  near  to  death, 
but  had  revived  to  a  measure  of  strength. 
Especially  was  this  frequent  during  the  years 

(117) 


118  SERALTHA. 

in  which  Seraltha  gave  her  companionship  as 
compensation  for  a  home  while  in  attendance  at 
the  seminary.  Although  showing  a  constant  af 
fection  for  Seraltha,  when  these  greater  illnesses 
came  upon  her,  Mrs.  Hyman  disclosed  a  love 
deeper  than  that  of  companionship,  yet  not  that 
of  a  mother.  In  her  helpless  hours  she  had,  in 
meditation,  looked  onward  to  the  goodly  com 
pany  awaiting  her,  and  in  her  thoughts  would 
sit  amidst  it  and  see  the  one  whom  she  had  left 
behind,  as  he  moved  about  his  desolate  home 
in  loneliness.  Then  love  would  breathe  wishes 
that  his  life  might  be  cheered  by  the  compan 
ionship  of  another,  and  when  she  felt  herself 
sinking,  she  would  ask  that  Seraltha  might  be 
with  her  to  hear  her  last  words. 

Question  not,  ye  women  who  have  never  felt 
the  overflowing  love  from  a  noble  soul  sweeping 
away  your  self-preference.  You  can  never  com 
prehend.  The  heart  of  the  woman  who  has  felt 
this  overflow  holds  impulses  that  reason  knows 
not  of. 

Seraltha  had  not  made  the  promised  visit,  and 


SEBALTHA.  119 

no  word  from  her  had  been  received  at  Santa 
Rosa.  During  the  day  preceding  that  upon 
which  Mrs.  Hyman  died,  two  messengers  were 
sent  to  the  city,  instructed  to  find  her.  One 
went  to  the  house  of  her  mother,  another  to  the 
home  of  the  invalid  lady,  to  whom  Seraltha  had 
been  long  in  service.  When  these  two  met, 
after  their  vain  search,  one  reported  that  her 
mother  had  directed  him  to  the  home  of  the  in 
valid  lady,  who  told  the  other  messenger  that 
Seraltha  was  with  her  mother.  After  consulta 
tion  the  two  messengers  went  to  the  house  of 
her  mother,  and  with  their  information  and  sur 
mises  so  frightened  Mrs.  Ames,  that  she  hastened 
to  visit  the  invalid  lady,  who  multiplied  her 
fears  by  allusion  to  recent  newspaper  accounts 
of  mysterious  disappearances,  of  elopements  and 
of  suicides.  She  advised  Mrs.  Ames  to  go 
directly  to  the  Central  Police  Station  for  fur 
ther  information.  Unable  to  give  this,  the  offi 
cers  suggested  that  she  advertise  in  the  daily 
papers  for  her  missing  daughter. 

This  advertisement  appeared  in  the  evening 


120  SERALTHA. 

papers,  and  was  also  displayed  by  the  Investi 
gator  in  its  morning  issue : 

"  Serai tha,  where  are  you?  Come  to  your 
mother." 

An  obliging  clerk  in  attendance  at  the  first 
office  that  she  entered  suggested  other  forms; 
but  Mrs.  Ames,  brushing  away  tears,  insisted 
upon  this  as  being  a  full  expression  of  what  was 
uppermost  in  her  heart. 

Nat  Rapps  was  looking  over  "the  paper" 
while  awaiting  breakfast  at  a  fashionable  family 
hotel,  situated  among  the  western  hills  near  the 
most  pretentious  residences  of  best  society.  He 
had  ordered  generously  and  had  placed  his  feet 
upon  the  lower  round  of  his  chair,  to  aid  in  his 
coming  gratification.  Something  in  the  paper 
fixed  his  attention.  His  feet  dropped  from 
their  resting-place  and  remained  suspended  for 
an  instant,  while  he  folded  his  paper  and  then 
hurriedly  left  the  room. 

The  waiter,  who  arrived  soon  afterward  bear 
ing  Nat  Rapps'  breakfast,  remarked  to  another 
who  stood  beside  an  opposite  table: 


SERALTHA.  121 

"  Dis  de  fouf  time  dis  same  thing  happen 
since  I'se  been  on  dis  table,  jes'  two  weeks  day 
fo'yisterday." 

A  few  moments  later  Nat  Rapps  rang  the  door 
bell  of  the  house  on  Pine  street.  The  door  was 
soon  opened  by  Lethe  St.  Pier,  who  looked  at 
him  suspiciously;  but  after  recognizing  him  as 
the  courteous  gentleman  of  Monterey,  whose 
sister  could  not  dress  properly,  she  admitted 
him  graciously. 

"  My  sister,  madam/'  he  said  immediately  after 
being  seated,  "has  insisted  that  I  should  wait 
upon  you  and  inquire  if  you  can  assist  her  at  a 
reception  to  be  given  to  an  eminent  literary 
gentleman  at  the  Hotel  Havencourt  next  month. 
I  told  her  of  the  beautifully  dressed  young  lady 
who  was  at  the  reception  at  Monterey — Miss 
Ames.  I  was  introduced  to  her.  A  lovely  lady, 
besides  being  charmingly  dressed;  and  my  sister 
insists  that  I  shall  beg  you  not  to  refuse.  Her 
husband  is  very  wealthy,  and  she  can  pay  well 
— even  more — for  your  assistance."  With  some 
hesitation  Lethe  answered:  "  May  be,  Miss  Se- 


122  SEEALTHA. 

raltha  will  attend  the  same  reception.  If  she 
does  she  will  want  me  to  wait  on  her." 

"Miss  Seraltha?  Yes!  That  would  be  unfor 
tunate  for  my  sister.  Can  you  ask  Miss  Seral 
tha  if  she  is  to  attend?  The  invitations  have 
been  out  several  days." 

"  She  is  away  from  the  city,  sir." 

"A  letter  would  reach  her." 

"  She  is  in  the  mountains." 

"  The  mails  go  everywhere.  A  letter  would 
certainly  find  her.  My  sister  will  pay  you  well 
— even  more,"  persisted  Nat  Rapps. 

"  I  don't  know  the  name  of  the  place — only 
the  names  of  some  of  the  mines,"  said  Lethe, 
whose  self-possession  was  disturbed  by  the  con 
sideration  of  an  impossible  letter. 

"The  El  Dorado  Consolidated,  perhaps?  A 
postofnce  right  by  them,"  responded  Nat  Rapps, 
encouragingly. 

"  No.    The  Hardstone  and  the  Consolation." 

"  Nevada!  "  exclaimed  Nat  Rapps. 

"  Nevada  ?  "  echoed  Lethe.     "  I  don't  know." 


SERALTHA.  123 

"  Went  with  a  party,"  asserted  Nat  Rapps, 
quietly. 

"  Yes." 

"  Pity  to  disturb  her  with  letters.  My  sister 
is  unfortunate." 

"  She  will  be  at  home  in  a  week;  then  I  can 
ask  her  about  it,"  said  Lethe,  with  a  glance  of 
eagerness. 

"  Can't  tell.  They  may  decide  to  stay  a  month 
when  they  arrive  there." 

"  No.  Mr.  Chalmer  Grose  said  they  would 
come  back  in  ten  days — foh  shuah." 

In  the  instant  that  Lethe  spoke  the  name  of 
Chalmer  Grose,  she  became  agitated.  Nat  Rapps 
gave  no  visible  attention  to  this,  nor  to  the  fact 
that  she  had  used  the  name,  but  prepared  for 
departure,  saying:  "My  sister  will  be  disap 
pointed,  but  she  could  not  wait  ten  days  before 
securing  assistance.  Must  be  secured  at  least 
two  weeks  before  the  reception.  You  understand 
about  such  things.  You  will  meet  her,  though, 
in  the  future.  She  wants  assistance  frequently. 
I  will  call  upon  you  hereafter,  when  she  does." 


124  SEBALTHA. 

Nat  Rapps  went  from  the  house  on  Pine  street 
to  the  offices  of  the  S.  N.  M.  A.,  where  he  gained 
information  of  the  whereabouts  of  Chalmer  Grose. 
He  afterward  put  upon  his  diary: 

"  Seraltha  found.     Nine  A.  M." 

With  anxious  heart  Mrs.  Ames  passed  the 
forenoon  of  this  day  by  looking  out  at  the  win 
dow  toward  the  street,  except,  at  times,  when 
she  would  go  to  the  sidewalk  and  strain  her 
sight  along  its  distance  upon  either  hand,  then 
walk  to  the  adjacent  corners  and  look  up  and 
down  other  streets.  Returning  to  her  cottage, 
she  sat  with  folded  hands,  still  looking  out  at 
the  window,  and  strove  to  quiet  her  fears  by 
thoughts  upon  possibilities. 

Perhaps  Seraltha  had  found  another  place, 
with  some  other  invalid  lady,  to  whom  she  was 
now  giving  companionship,  and  had  forgotten 
to  tell  her  mother  of  the  change.  Perhaps — 
blessed  word,  that  brings  to  doubt  sweet  sen 
tences  of  cheer,  even  so  that  the  gates  of  heaven 
may  be  seen  through  sinfulness.  Its  sugges 
tions  gave  her  hope  until  time  passed  the  noon- 


SERALTHA.  125 

hour,  and  the  thought  came  to  her  of  the  wick 
edness  in  a  great  city.  "Perhaps" — ominous 
word,  that  increases  the  terrors  of  doubt,  even 
to  a  certainty  of  evil. 

She  hastily  prepared  for  walking,  and  during 
the  afternoon  called  at  all  places  where  Seraltha 
might  visit,  but  found  no  information.  Return 
ing  to  her  home  in  the  evening,  and  finding  it 
desolate,  she  went  again  to  the  office  of  the  In 
vestigator  for  the  purpose  of  inserting  another 
advertisement.  While  she  was  there  a  group  of 
men  stood  behind  the  counter  of  the  office,  dis 
cussing  information  received  by  a  telegram.  Nat 
Rapps  stood  among  these,  and  after  conclusions 
were  reached  regarding  future  action  upon  the 
information,  he  turned  away  from  the  others 
and  approached  the  counter. 

When  a  clerk  had  written  the  advertisement, 
Nat  Rapps  saw  the  name  "  Seraltha  "  upon  it. 

"  You  are  her  mother,"  said  he,  addressing 
Mrs.  Ames  in  undertone. 

"  Yes,  sir." 

"  Seraltha  is  found,"  he  said,  and  leaning  over 


126  SEBALTHA. 

the  counter  he  touched  her  hand  as  she  uttered 
an  exclamation.  "Hush!  Not  here!  Say  no 
word.  She  wants  you.  Wants  you  immediately. 
She  is  in  the  mountains.  Hush ! "  This  checked 
another  exclamation.  "  The  train  that  will  take 
you  to  her  leaves  within  an  hour.  I  am  going 
there.  You  will  go  with  me.  She  wants  you. 
The  Investigator  will  bear  your  expenses.  Do 
not  ask  me  any  questions.  I  cannot  answer 
them,  but  you  must  go  with  me.  Seraltha  wants 
you.  You  will  see  her  to-morrow." 

A  carriage  came  to  the  door  soon  afterward 
and  stood  in  waiting.  Nat  Rapps  passed  out 
from  behind  the  counter  and  assisted  the  bewil 
dered  woman  into  it.  Arriving  at  the  train,  he 
secured  an  apartment  for  her  in  a  sleeping  car. 
For  his  own  accommodation  he  selected  a  day 
car.  Within  an  hour  thereafter  he  was  full 
asleep  upon  opened  seats,  and  the  train  was 
speeding  toward  the  mountain  city.  Before  he 
slept  he  drew  a  paper  from  his  pocket  and  in 
the  dim  light  from  the  oil  lamps  above  him,  he 
read  the  telegram  received  by  the  Investigator : 


SERALTHA.  127 

" CITY,  WEDNESDAY, ,  8  p.  M. 

"INVESTIGATOR, 

"  San  Francisco : 

"  A  horse,  grievously  wounded  by  falling 
through  trees  and  over  rocks,  hobbled  into  this 
city  at  sunset.  He  is  of  a  team  that  was  driven 
into  the  mountains  by  Mr.  Chalmer  Grose,  Pres 
ident  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mining  Association, 
who,  with  others,  came  here  yesterday  morning, 
and  left  soon  after  to  visit  a  mine  upon  one 
of  the  upper  slopes.  The  condition  of  the  horse 
and  his  harness  indicates  a  plunge  over  the  cliff 

above  the  Cascades  of  Canyon,  together 

with  the  wagon  in  which  the  party  rode.  The 
roadway  at  one  point  is  three  hundred  feet  above 
the  Cascades,  and  is  in  all  places  high,  narrow 
and  dangerous.  It  is  feared  that  there  are  no 
survivors  of  a  terrible  catastrophe,  except  this 
horse.  A  relief  party,  with  surgeons  and  their 
appliances,  has  gone  into  the  mountains. 

"  OPERATOR,  WESTERN  UNION." 


CHAPTER  X. 

>  more  trouble,"  exclaimed  Ham 
ilton  Tucker,  soon  after  Nat  Rapps 
wrote  his  name  and  that  of  Mrs.  Ames  on  the 
register  of  the  mountain-city  hotel.  He  had 
been  busily  engaged  during  the  entire  day  in 
the  construction  of  answers  to  telegrams  of  anx 
ious  inquiry  from  San  Francisco  and  other 
places,  regarding  the  accident  at  the  Cascades. 
This  strain  upon  his  mind,  together  with  the  la 
bor  of  going  many  times  to  a  suite  of  rooms  in 
the  second  story  of  the  hotel,  and  making  jour 
neys  to  the  telegraph  office,  had  brought  upon 
him  much  fatigue.  He  stood  in  a  leaning  atti 
tude  against  the  counter  of  the  hotel  office  for  a 
partial  rest,  when  passengers  from  the  evening 
express  train  came  into  the  room.  He  was  thus 
standing  while  Nat  Rapps  wrote  on  the  register. 
From  his  position  he  saw  the  names  plainly. 
He  immediately  went  away  from -the  counter  to 

(128) 


SEEALTHA.  129 

the  farther  end  of  the  office  and  dropped  wearily 
into  a  chair.  It  was  here  that  the  assertion  re 
lating  to  additional  trouble  was  made,  and  it 
was  here  that  he  drew  his  hat  over  his  eyes  and 
feigned  sleep  as  Nat  Rapps  approached  him,  af 
ter  a  conversation  with  the  clerk  of  the  hotel 
and  a  hasty  examination  of  recent  entries  on 
the  register.  During  this  time  Mrs.  Ames  was 
conducted  to  the  floor  above  by  a  bell-boy. 

A  speedy  employment  of  time,  besides  the 
gaining  of  full  information,  was  essential  to  the 
purposes  of  Nat  Rapps,  for  the  Investigator 
should  be  in  receipt  of  his  report  at  midnight. 
He  approached  Hamilton  Tucker  and  tapped 
him  gently  on  the  arm. 

"  Nat  Rapps,  of  the  Investigator"  said  the  re 
porter,  as  Hamilton  Tucker  raised  his  hat  in 
response. 

"  After  news?"  asserted  Hamilton  Tucker,  who 
buttoned  his  coat  over  his  chest. 

"  Information,  Mr.  Tucker — reliable  informa 
tion.  Prominent  man  is  Mr.  Chalmer  Grose. 
The  Investigator  is  very  discreet." 


130  SEEALTHA. 

"  You  want  to  make  a  sensation.  I  have  tele 
graphed  everything  to  friends.  Nothing  more 
to  say.  Don't  want  a  great  ado  made  over  it — 
he  don't.  He  got  hurt  at  the  Cascades.  Lay 
him  up  a  month.  Doing  well.  Hurt  pretty  bad, 
not  dangerous.  Nothing  more  to  say.  Nothing 
more  to  it."  Hamilton  Tucker  secured  another 
button  of  his  coat.  Nat  Rapps  took  a  seat  near 
by  him. 

"  If  fairly  treated,  Mr.  Tucker,"  said  the  re 
porter,  "  the  Investigator  avoids  sensational  work. 
Competent  authority  refuses  information.  We 
must  look  elsewhere.  General  information  is 
always  sensational.  Not  our  fault;  we  do  the 
best  we  can.  Prominent  man  and  his  party 

stopping  in City.  Prominent  man  seriously 

injured  by  unusual  accident.  A  full  account 
must  go  to  the  Investigator  within  three  hours. 
I  will  interview  the  people  about  the  hotel,  con 
sult  the  register  and  infer  the  rest." 

Hamilton  Tucker  drew  a  deep  breath,  glanced 
at  the  opened  register  lying  upon  the  counter, 
and  loosened  two  of  the  four  buttons  of  his  coat. 


SERALTHA.  131 

At  the  same  time  he  turned  partly  toward  Nat 
Rapps  and  said: 

"  Unusual  accident!     Yes,  Mr. — er — " 

"  Rapps,  of  the  Investigator"  prompted  the 
reporter. 

"  Unusual  accident,  Mr.  Rapps,"  resumed 
Hamilton  Tucker,  now  in  a  perspiration,  and 
unfastening  the  remaining  buttons  of  his  coat. 
Again  repeating  the  words,  he  added:  "  Full  ac 
count  of  accident.  That  is  what  you  want.  Noth 
ing  else?  No  business  matters?  He  is  up  here 
on  business — at  the  mines." 

"  His  business  affairs  have  no  interest  to  the 
Investigator,  Mr.  Tucker.  Go  on  with  your  ac 
count  of  the  accident." 

"  And  you  want  nothing  else?  "  asked  Hamil 
ton  Tucker,  suddenly  becoming  animated. 

"  Nothing  else.     Go  on." 

"  But  her  mother  came  with  you!  She  is  up 
stairs  now." 

"  On  the  same  train.  First  news  indicated  that 
all  of  the  party  were  killed  or  terribly  injured. 
Of  course,  her  mother  would  naturally  come." 


132  SEBALTHA. 

"  But  she  did  not  know  that  Se — that  she  was 
out  of  the  city.  How  did  she  find  that  out?" 
Hamilton  Tucker  meditated  and  then,  with  an 
air  of  satisfaction,  added  :  "  It  is  all  right, 
though.  She  has  been  with  my  wife  all  the 
time  since  we  left  the  city. 

Nat  Rapps  made  no  response  to  this,  but  again 
said: 

"  Go  on  with  your  account  of  the  accident." 

"  I  tell  you,  it  was  the  fault  of  that  drunken 
driver."  Hamilton  Tucker  hesitated  and  looked 
out  through  the  window,  upward  toward  the 
mountain,  although  dense  darkness  was  about 
it.  As  if  gathering  thought  from  the  gloom 
outside,  he  continued  silent  until  prompted  by 
the  reporter,  upon  which  he  turned  from  the 
window  and,  unbuttoning  his  waistcoat,  resumed 
his  narrative. 

"  That  tire  was  all  correct.  The  driver  had 
four  empty  whisky  flasks  in  that  box  under  his 
seat.  Anyway,  I  found  the  necks  of  four  with 
the  corks  sticking  in  them,  just  where  the  box 
struck  a  rock  under  that  big  pine  tree.  That 


SERALTHA.  133 

box  was  smashed  to  flinders,  and  so  were  the 
flasks,  except  the  necks,  and  I  know  they  were 
empty  when  they  struck  the  rock,  because  there 
was  no  smell  of  whisky  on  the  splinters  of  the 
box  nor  on  the  rock.  He  had  five  or  six  doses 
of  that  lightning  at  the  range  house  besides.  I 
tell  you,  it  was  the  fault  of  that  boozy  driver. 
The  tire  was  all  correct."  Hamilton  Tucker's 
narrative  was  here  interrupted  by  generous  pro 
fanity, 

"  The  brute  should  have  been  killed,"  he  con 
tinued  with  emphasis,  "  but  he  wasn't — wasn't 
even  hurt,  except  just  scratched  a  little.  He 
lodged  in  that  pine  tree,  way  up  on  a  high  limb, 
the  other  side  from  where  Mr.  Chalmer  Grose 
went  down.  The  horses  and  wagon  went  down 
on  the  side  facing  the  cliff.  The  driver  was 
shouting  for  help  all  the  time  while  I  was  climb 
ing  the  rocks  up  them  Cascades  to  get  to  the 
trouble.  When  I  got  there  I  shouted  to  him, 
'  Fly  down! '  I  couldn't  help  him. 

"  I  tell  you,  it  was  his  fault.  The  tire  was  all 
correct.  When  we  started  from  the  range  house 


134  SEBALTHA. 

everything  was  all  correct,  except  him — horses 
all  right — they  had  been  down  that  cliff  road  a 
thousand  times — and  if  he  had  kept  them  to 
the  track  and  not  struck  any  of  the  outside 
rocks,  Mr.  Chalmer  Grose  wouldn't  be  laying 
up  stairs  with  three  ribs  mashed  in,  and  his 
left  arm  broken  in  two  places,  and  otherwise 
scratched  and  bruised,  and  the  hotel  wouldn't 
have  one  dead  horse  and  another  one  worse  than 
dead  (never  can  sell  him  for  anything  if  he  does 
get  cured  up),  and  you  wouldn't  be  here." 

Hamilton  Tucker  again  meditated  until 
prompted  by  the  reporter. 

"  When  the  horses  started  to  go  over  the  cliff, 
you  wouldn't  have  given  six  bits  for  the  whole 
outfit,  lives  and  all;  yet  there  is  no  war  so  fierce 
but  that  some  soldiers  will  escape." 

This  epigram  was  evidently  a  surprise  to 
Hamilton  Tucker  himself,  for  he  immediately 
made  an  attempt  at  repetition,  but  in  this  his 
fiction  conveyed  a  different  meaning.  The  sat 
isfaction  of  having  expressed  an  idea  somewhat 
outside  of  the  commonplace  seemed  to  govern 


SERALTHA.  135 

the  remaining  portion  of  his  narrative,  and  to 
direct  it  into  a  dramatic  channel. 

"  I  tell  you/'  he  said  again,  "it  was  his  fault. 
We  started  from  the  range  house  in  great  shape. 
The  blacks  flew  over  the  range  and  the  oaks 
seemed  to  glide  by  us.  When  we  struck  into 
the  high  cut  above  the  Cascades  I  told  him  to 
slack  up;  but  Mr.  Chalmer  Grose  said,  '  Set  the 
brakes  and  go  on.'  That  was  all  right  if  the 
driver  had  been  all  right.  We  had  got  about 
half  way  down — where  the  tops  of  them  big 
pines  touch  the  cut — and  the  horses  were  on  a 
stiff  trot.  Suddenly  something  crashed.  I  knew 
by  the  way  the  wagon  lurched  that  a  wheel  was 
smashed,  and  that  an  end  of  the  forward  axle 
was  on  the  ground.  Well,  that  end  on  the  ground 
must  have  struck  against  a  rock,  for  it  swung 
the  horses  around,  and  before  I  could  tell  you 
the  forequarters  of  the  near  one  were  over  the 
cliff  and  the  rest  of  him  and  the  other  horse  fol 
lowed.  Mr.  Chalmer  Grose  was  on  the  near 
side,  sitting  with  me  on  the  hind  seat,  and  the 
driver  was  on  the  end  of  the  front  seat,  corres- 


136  SERALTHA. 

ponding  with  my  position.  When  the  axle 
dropped,  the  driver  shot  out  over  the  near  side  of 
the  wagon  and  never  touched  the  cliff,  but 
plunged  down  into  one  of  them  pine  trees  and 
lodged  there.  He  was  drunk — the  tire  was  all 
correct. 

"Circumstances  make  a  difference  in  how 
quick  a  man  thinks,  and  I  thought  if  I  was 
shooting  the  other  way,  instead  of  the  driver's 
way,  I  would  drop  in  the  road  instead  of  in  the 
pines.  I  can  never  tell  you  how  I  got  there,  for 
it  was  all  the  way  uphill,  over  the  side  of  the 
wagon  and  over  the  hind  wheel ;  and  that  wheel 
must  have  been  whirling  around  in  the  air,  be 
cause  when  I  first  got  onto  it  my  head  was  to 
ward  the  road.  It  whirled  around  at  least  once, 
because  a  second  afterward  my  head  was  over 
the  wagon  box,  toward  the  Cascades,  and  I  just 
got  a  glimpse  of  Mr.  Chalmer  Grose  going  the 
same  way  the  driver  did,  into  them  pines.  I 
must  have  backed  off  from  that  wheel,  because 
the  next  thing  I  knew  I  was  lying  face  down 
across  the  outside  of  the  road,  with  my  head 


SERALTHA.  137 

and  one  arm.  over  the  cliff.  Mr. Investigator, 

I  had  to  lie  there.  I  couldn't  get  up.  I  was 
paralyzed.  Mr.  Chalmer  Grose  was  rolling  over 
and  over  down  the  outside  branches  of  one  of 
them  pines.  All  at  once  he  dropped  through,  out 
of  sight.  It  made  me  sick.  I  knew  what  was 
down  there.  It  is  full  fifty  feet  from,  the  lower 
limbs  of  them  pines  to  the  ground,  and  from 
there  down  to  the  Cascade  so  steep  that  a  grizzly 
couldn't  climb  up." 

Hamilton  Tucker  reflected  a  moment,  looking 
out  through  the  window  toward  the  mountain, 
and  then  continued : 

"  But  for  a  sight — if  you  wasn't  interested — 
that  team  and  the  wagon,  going  down  through 
the  pines,  following  along  after  Mr.  Chalmer 
Grose  and  breaking  the  limbs  as  they  went, 
would  stay  with  you  longer  and  come  back 
nights  afterward. 

"  They  didn't  go  so  fast,  and  you  could  gather 
in  the  incidents.  I  couldn't  see  the  horses,  first 
sight;  the  wagon  was  on  top,  but  the  outfit  took 
a  roll  inward,  toward  the  body  of  the  tree,  and 


138  SERALTHA. 

the  horses  were  all  mixed  up  in  the  box  of  the 
wagon.  The  pole  was  broken  off  and  splinters 
from  the  seats  and  branches  from  the  pine  flew 
in  all  directions.  All  at  once  they  struck  a  big 
limb  that  didn't  break.  The  wagon  went  down 
one  side  of  it  and  one  horse  down  the  other  side. 
The  harness  was  a  new  one  and  it  cracked  like 
somebody  was  pumping  on  a  Remington,  when 
they  pulled  apart.  Mr.  Investigator,  I've  known 
ever  since  I  began  to  herd  sheep  and  rode  a 
bronco  in  Calaveras,  that  horses  were  more  near 
relation  to  human  folks  than  most  people  sup 
pose." 

Giving  this  thought  ample  time  to  penetrate 
the  mind  of  Nat  Rapps,  he  continued:  ""Well, 
sir,  that  other  horse  slid  down  the  limb  to  the 
tree,  and  when  he  stopped  his  forelegs  were  over 
the  limb  and  his  body  was  hanging  on  the  other 
side.  I'm  a  Greaser  if  that  horse  didn't  put  his 
hind  legs  around  that  tree  and  try  to  climb  up 
and  sit  on  the  limb.  For  a  horse  to  climb  a 

* 

tree  ain't  instinctive,  as  you  would  call  it,  and  of 
Bourse  that  horse  reasoned  that  to  get  on  the 


SEBALTHA.  139 

limb  was  his  only  salvation.  But  he  couldn't 
do  it.  He  tried  hard  enough,  and  when  he  gave 
up  he  screamed — yes,  sir,  screamed — because  he 
knew  what  was  coming  if  he  let  go  his  hold. 

"  He  had  to  let  go.  He  went  crashing  down 
through  the  pine  tree  and  I  heard  him  strike 
below,  soft  like — not  as  I  expected — and  scram 
ble  up,  and  then  fall  and  roll  over  the  rocks 
down  to  the  Cascades.  I  heard  him  splashing 
and  scrambling  to  get  up,  and  then  he  screamed 
again.  He  isn't  the  one  that  was  killed.  When  I 
came  to  myself,  I  got  up  and  ran  down  the  road 
to  the  foot  of  the  Cascades,  near  the  little  lake. 
I  had  to.  I  couldn't  get  down  that  cliff  any 
place,  to  get  to  where  Mr.  Chalmer  Grose  was, 
and  I  expected  he  was  killed. 

"  When  I  got  to  level  ground  and  was  turning 
to  go  up  the  gorge,  along  side  of  the  Cascades,  I 
stopped.  I  had  to.  My  feet  felt  as  if  they  were 
fastened  in  one  of  them  soft  asphaltum  side 
walks.  I  couldn't  lift  them.  That  horse  was 
just  coming  out  of  the  gorge,  hobbling.  Mr. 
Investigator,  you  go  out  to  the  stable  and  look  at 


140  SEBALTHA. 

that  horse.  You  can  infer  the  rest.  I  can  never 
tell  you  how  he  looked;  but  when  he  saw  me  he 
screamed,  screamed  three  times,  and  then  camo 
toward  me.  I  couldn't  stir,  and  I  expect  he 
thought  that  I  was  standing  there  dead,  for  he 
turned  away  and  went  around  the  lake,  among 
them  painted  rocks,  toward  the  city,  with  that 
pine  branch  hanging  over  his  back — the  stable 
man  will  tell  you  about  it;  but  you  can  never 
write  up  that  scream.  It  filled  the  canyon,  and 
I  heard  it  echo  from  away  down  to  the  Pass. 

"  As  soon  as  the  ground  let  go  of  my  feet  I 
hurried  up  to  where  Mr.  Chalmer  Grose  was, 
and  he  wasn't  dead — only  three  ribs  broken  and 
his  left  arm  in  two  places.  That  is  what  the 
doctors  said  when  they  got  there.  We  got  him 
down  to  the  hotel.  He  is  not  dangerously  hurt, 
and  he  is  comfortable.  That  is  all  you  need  to 
say  about  him.  You  have  got  a  good  account 
of  the  accident,  and  he  is  a  man  who  don't  want 
much  said  about  his  affairs.  News  is  all  you 
want." 


SERALTHA.  141 

"Is  the  driver  still  in  the  tree?"  inquired 
Nat  Rapps. 

"I  forgot  about  him.  When  the  folks  got 
there  from  the  city,  he  kept  up  a  steady  stream 
of  yelling  until  they  got  a  rope  to  him  from 
above.  He  tied  it  around  himself  and  was 
pulled  up  onto  the  cliff  road.  Don't  forget  to 
say  that  he  was  drunk.  The  tire  was  all  correct. 
He  has  been  saying  to-day  that  the  tire  was 
brittle  as  glass,  and  broke  in  six  pieces  when  he 
struck  the  rock  road  around  the  cliff.  But  we 
were  half  way  down  when  the  trouble  began, 
and  he  must  have  run  against  a  boulder  on  the 
side  of  the  track.  The  tire  was  all  correct." 

An  hour  later,  Nathan  Kapps  wired  a  full  ac 
count  of  this  accident  to  the  Investigator,  and  no 
mention  of  Seraltha  Ames  was  made  in  that  dis 
patch,  nor  was  there  any  intimation  in  it  that 
the  purposes  of  Chalmer  Grose,  during  his  visit 
to  the  mountain  city,  included  other  than  those 
of  business. 

While  Hamilton  Tucker  was  giving  his  ver 
sion  of  the  accident  to  Nat  Rapps,  another  nar- 


142  SEBALTHA. 

rative  unfolded  its  surprises  in  the  chamber 
where  Seraltha  had  mourned  the  expected  death 
of  Chalmer  Grose. 

An  hour  before  the  return  of  the  relief  party, 
a  messenger  had  arrived  from  the  Cascades, 
bearing  details  of  the  accident.  A  knock  on 
the  door  of  Seraltha's  chamber  brought  before 
the  messenger  a  girl  who  shrank  away  from  the 
gas-light  that  poured  into  her  darkened  room 
from  the  hall-way,  and  who  held  a  kerchief 
against  her  eyes  as  he  began  to  deliver  the 
message.  A  woman  stood  before  him  in  the 
full  light  of  the  hall-way,  with  strange  violet 
flashes  streaming  through  swollen  eyelids,  and 
calmly  asking  him  to  repeat  his  message.  She 
went  with  him  to  the  office  of  the  hotel,  and 
sought  confirmation  of  his  tidings.  This  given, 
she  directed  that  the  bed  be  transferred  from 
the  chamber  assigned  to  Chalmer  Grose  to  the 
parlor  of  his  suite.  She  then  went  to  the  porch 
of  the  hotel,  to  remain  there  until  the  arrival 
of  the  relief  party  with  the  helpless  man,  to 


SERALTHA.  143 

whom  she  had  already  determined  that  she 
would  give  comfort  and  care. 

Men  who  were  in  the  office  turned  the  pages 
of  the  register,  and,  whispering  together,  strolled 
out  upon  the  porch  to  gaze  at  the  woman  who 
watched  and  waited  there.  She  gave  them  no 
heed.  The  cold  night  wind  that  dropped  from 
the  mountain  and  swept  down  through  the  city 
threw  loosened  strands  of  brown  hair  across  her 
face  and  about  her  shoulders.  The  calm  face 
looked  wistfully  upward  in  the  direction  of 
the  mountain,  or  along  the  street  toward  its 
junction  with  the  canyon  road,  peering  intently 
through  the  darkness. 

The  return  of  the  relief  party  had  brought 
her  joy,  sympathy,  and  the  delusive  pretender 
to  kinship  with  love,  pity.  She  put  aside  her 
maiden  reserve  when  she  saw  her  wounded  ad 
mirer  prostrate  on  the  mattress  in  the  long 
mountain  wagon,  which  halted  at  the  entrance 
of  the  hotel  at  midnight  of  the  day  of  the  acci 
dent.  She  cautioned  those  who  gently  lifted 


144  SEBALTHA. 

him  from  the  wagon,  and  directed  them  to  the 
spacious  parlor. 

When  Chalmer  Grose  was  laid  upon  the  bed 
the  vigils  of  Seraltha  Ames  began.  She  re 
mained  by  his  side  or  within  call  during  the 
remainder  of  the  night  and  the  following  day, 
until  the  arrival  of  her  mother.  This  being 
announced  to  her,  she  went  to  the  hallway,  and, 
taking  the  hand  of  her  mother,  led  her  into 
her  chamber.  Silently  the  mother  sank  into 
a  wicker  chair,  her  hat  and  wraps  unremoved; 
silently  the  daughter  sat  opposite  her  in  rai 
ment  unaccustomed  to  the  mother's  eyes. 

When  the  heart  misinterprets  another's  mean 
ing,  loving  sentences  clear  away  perplexities; 
but  when  souls  are  at  variance  no  words  can 
bring  understanding.  The  mother,  dressed  in 
the  homely  street  garb  of  labor,  knew  only 
the  pleasures  from  scenes  upon  the  streets,  in 
shops  and  in  the  parks.  The  drudgery  of  home 
work  had  blunted  her  desires  and  the  cooking- 
range  had  shriveled  her  aspirations.  In  glaring 
contrast  was  her  daughter,  seated  upon  a  rock- 


SEBALTHA.  145 

ing  chair  in  graceful  attire.  Education  had 
poured  the  light  of  thought  over  her  soul, 
revealing  to  her  the  vast  possibilities  of  an 
expanding  life.  Between  these  two  souls  no 
dialogue  could  establish  a  unity  of  perceptions. 
As  if  both  in  their  differing  ways  comprehended 
this  truth,  Seraltha  related  the  events  and 
movements  of  the  past  few  weeks  to  her  mo 
ther,  who  kept  silence  until  the  conclusion. 

"  Is  it  a  dream?  "  Mrs.  Ames  then  asked. 

She  put  her  worn  hand  outward,  groping 
as  if  to  feel  her  pillow  after  an  awakening  in 
the  darkness  of  her  chamber,  and  downward 
along  her  side,  where  the  bed  might  be  were 
she  lying  upon  it. 

This  question  bore  within  it  a  measure  of  dis 
tance,  untraversable  between  the  understanding 
of  the  mother  and  the  conduct  of  the  daughter. 
As  if  in  a  dream,  Mrs.  Ames  then  went  with 
her  daughter  to  the  dining  room,  and  immedi 
ately  after  dinner  to  the  chamber  assigned  to 
her  use.  Seraltha  resumed  her  place  at  the 
bedside  of  Chalmer  Grose,  watching,  without 


146  SERALTHA. 

sleep,  through  the  second  night  of  his  illness. 
In  this  semblance  of  a  dream  Mrs.  Ames  strug 
gled  with  the  incomprehensible,  until  the  rising 
sun  shone  into  her  chamber.  She  went  to  the 
morning  train  for  a  return  to  her  home,  with 
the  pressure  of  a  daughter's  kiss  upon  her  lips 
and  a  daughter's  farewell  words  in  her  ear, 
accompanied  with  brave  sentences  that  bore  in 
their  decision  the  logic  of  self-sacrifice. 
"He  needs  me.  I  will  stay  by  him." 
Nat  Rapps,  having  completed  his  duties  in 
the  interest  of  the  Investigator,  departed  on  the 
same  train. 

After  receiving  full  instructions  from  Chal- 
mer  Grose  relating  to  his  duties  upon  a  return  to 
San  Francisco,  Hamilton  Tucker  took  the  even 
ing  train  for  that  city  in  company  with  his  wife. 
From  the  time  in  which  Hermina  had  received 
information  of  the  accident  at  the  Cascades 
to  that  in  which  she  departed  from  the  hotel, 
she  had  not  shown  the  slightest  interest  in  the 
results.  She  had  not  spoken  to  Seraltha,  nor 
had  she  made  inquiries  regarding  the  condition 


SEBALTHA.  147 

of  Chalmer  Grose.  She  knew  nothing  of  their 
relations  as  nurse  and  patient,  and  her  husband 
did  not  inform  her.  She  had  finished  the  read 
ing  of  the  interesting  book  and  returned  it  to 
its  place  on  the  parlor  table.  A  traveler,  who 
afterward  occupied  the  suite  of  rooms  in  which 
the  table  stood,  found  in  the  book  a  passage 
heavily  underscored,  which  read: 

"We  decline,  we  descend,  we  fall;  we  are  even 
overthrown  and  we  hardly  perceive  it.  This  always 
ends,  it  is  true,  by  an  awakening,  but  a  tardy  one. 
In  the  meantime  it  seems  as  though  we  were  neutral 
in  the  game  which  is  being  played  between  our 
good  and  our  ill  fortune.  We  are  the  stakes" 


CHAPTER  XI. 

second  floor  of  the  hotel  in  which 
Chalmer  Grose  lay  grievously  wounded, 
had  been  arranged  and  furnished  for  the  enter 
tainment  of  patrons  to  whom  prices  for  comfort 
and  service  were  of  slight  concern.  These  pat 
ronized  the  hotel  in  goodly  numbers;  some,  res 
ident  in  the  mountain  city,  made  wealthy  by 
the  outpouring  of  the  mines  thereabout;  others 
transient,  from  larger  cities — especially  San 
Francisco — who  were  intent  upon  the  pursuit 
of  profit  or  pleasure.  Broad  corridors  and  an 
ample  court,  in  which  a  fountain  played  over 
semi-tropic  water  plants,  amply  separated  each 
suite  of  rooms  from  the  others.  Sensuous  dec 
orations,  yet  well  within  the  demands  of  decent 
art,  embellished  the  walls  and  frescoes  of  the 
suite  parlors. 

In  that  occupied  by  Chalmer  Grose,  which 
overlooked  the  court  by  broad,  screened  win- 

(148) 


SEBALTHA.  149 

dows,  a  masterpiece  in  oil  hung  against  the  wall 
upon  the  right  of  the  bed  standing  in  the  center 
of  the  room.  The  painting  represented  Night, 
exemplified  by  a  woman  draped  in  black  lace 
that  fell  over  her  figure  from  broad  bands 
of  black  looped  upon  white  shoulders.  She 
lifted  an  undraped  arm  into  the  dark  space 
above  her  and  touched  a  golden  star.  Between 
the  chandeliers,  depending  from  the  ceiling  near 
either  end  of  the  room,  troops  of  maidens  in  en 
ticing  disarray  fled  before  pursuing  centaurs 
along  an  oblong,  frescoed  course  in  pretense  of 
alarm. 

Upon  the  bed  beneath  the  centaurs  and  flee 
ing  maidens  Chalmer  Grose  had  endured  the 
torture  of  a  surgeon's  operation.  An  arm  twice 
broken  and  three  ribs  fractured,  yet  chance  was 
in  a  kindly  mood  when  he  dropped  through  the 
yielding  foliage  of  the  pine  and  shot  downward 
fifty  feet  toward  the  Cascades.  Huge  boulders 
lay  underneath  the  pines  in  close  array,  and  his 
life  was  the  penalty  had  he  fallen  upon  one  of 
them.  He  fell  between  two  that  held  within 


150  SEBALTHA. 

their  enclosure  a  thick  mat  of  pine  burrs   and 
decaying  foliage. 

Chance  was  also  kind  to  the  horse  that  bore 
the  tidings  of  disaster  to  Seraltha,  inscribed 
upon  his  glossy  blackness.  When  his  hold  was 
loosened  from  the  limb  of  the  tree,  his  strug 
gles  threw  him  outward.  The  yielding  branches 
aided  him  to  drop  upon  the  mat  of  burrs  and 
foliage,  where  Chalmer  Grose  lay  stunned,  but 
not  fatally  injured.  It  was  the  head  of  the 
horse  that,  as  he  fell  upon  the  mat  between  the 
rocks,  struck  Chalmer  Grose,  breaking  his  arm 
and  his  ribs. 

Beside  this  bed  Seraltha  began  her  vigil  imme 
diately  after  the  surgeon  had  performed  his  op 
eration.  She  was  in  constant  attendance  during 
the  succeeding  day  and  night,  except  during  the 
short  interval  when  she  was  called  to  see  her 
mother.  For  the  convenience  of  the  surgeon's 
attendant,  who  remained  in  the  hotel  subject  to 
call,  Chalmer  Grose  rested  upon  the  left  side  of 
the  broad  bed.  His  injuries  were  upon  his  left 
side.  Inflammation  from  the  injured  ribs  af- 


SEEALTHA.  151 

fected  the  action  of  his  heart.  Frequently,  dur 
ing  the  first  thirty-six  hours,  the  attendant  was 
called  to  apply  lotions  or  to  otherwise  arrange 
for  his  comfort.  Becomingly,  Seraltha  had  re 
tired  from  the  room  during  these  services,  but 
immediately  returned  when  they  had  been  com 
pleted. 

The  disturbed  circulation  of  his  blood  drove 
a  persistent  pain  through  the  brain  of  Chalmer 
Grose.  He  rejected  the  cooling  applications  of 
the  attendant  to  his  forehead,  but  accepted  the 
soft,  caressing  hand  of  Seraltha  in  their  place, 
or  the  soothing  puffs  of  mountain  air  gently 
wafted  across  his  face  from  her  fan.  This 
devotion  brought  ease  to  his  pains,  and  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  second  day  he  fell  asleep. 
Seraltha  watched  over  him  and  plied  the  cool 
ing  fan  until  his  awakening,  which  did  not  occur 
until  after  sunset. 

When  Chalmer  Grose  awoke  the  attendant 
performed  his  duties  while  Seraltha  was  at  din 
ner.  When  she  returned  to  the  bedside  he 
had  retired.  The  gas-lights  beyond  the  bed 


152  SERALTHA. 

were  turned  low,  and  a  shadow,  as  of  twilight, 
spread  over  the  bed  from  the  high  panels  at  its 
head.  Informing  her  that  the  pain  had  returned, 
Chalmer  Grose  expressed  a  wish  that  she  might 
dispel  it  as  before. 

Again  Seraltha  sat  near  him;  again  her 
soothing  hand  and  cooling  fan  performed 
their  services.  A  light  evening  breeze  came 
through  the  screened  windows  from  the  court, 
bearing  the  sound  of  the  fountain  pattering  on 
the  broad  leaves  of  the  semi-tropic  water  plants. 
All  else  was  still. 

"  If  I  sleep  again,"  he  said,  "  you  can  sum 
mon  the  attendant  and  retire  to  your  chamber." 

"  If  you  sleep,  I  will  do  so,"  she  responded. 

Her  hand  continued  in  its  movements  on  his 
forehead,  the  fan  kept  up  its  gentle  waving,  and 
the  water  jets  splashed  upon  the  broad  leaves  at 
the  fountain.  Five  minutes  passed. 

"  A  slight  breeze  comes  through  the  windows 
of  the  court,"  he  then  said. 

"  It  is  refreshing,"  she  added. 

She  withdrew  her  hand  from  his  forehead  and 


SERALTHA.  153 

pressed  the  fingers  against  her  eyelids.  He 
turned  his  face  suddenly  toward  her.  The 
movement  caused  a  pain  in  the  broken  arm,  and 
a  frown  came  upon  his  face.  Instantly  she 
returned  her  hand  to  its  duties. 

"Forgive  me,"  she  said,  "it  will  not  leave 
your  forehead  again  until  you  sleep." 

He  breathed  heavily  as  the  pain  coursed  along 
his  arm.  Seraltha  drew  closer  to  him  and  her 
hand  stroked  his  forehead  more  caressingly. 
When  the  pain  had  abated,  he  said: 

"  If  the  breeze  could  blow  full  upon  me  " — 
He  hesitated,  as  if  in  thought  upon  the  possible 
advantages  contained  in  this  fancy,  or  in  expec 
tation  that  she  would  devise  a  method  for  its 
realization. 

11  My  position  keeps  it  from  you,"  she  said; 
and,  arising  from  her  chair,  she  self-reproach- 
fully  added:  "How  unthoughtful  I  have  been!" 

The  breeze  came  upon  his  face,  but  not  sooner 
than  the  hand  of  his  uninjured  right  arm  was 
raised  from  the  counterpane  to  clasp  his  fore 
head  where  Seraltha  had  stroked  it. 


154  SERALTHA. 

"  I  want  the  breeze,"  he  said;  "  it  revives  me. 
But  I  cannot — I  cannot  spare  your  hand  until  I 
sleep." 

He  said  this  pleadingly  and  with  groans. 
Seraltha  hurriedly  drew  her  chair  around  the 
bed,  and,  placing  it  close  by  the  other  side,  sat 
upon  it  and  extended  her  hand  toward  his  head. 

"I  cannot  touch  your  head  from  this  side," 
she  said,  making  an  effort  to  do  so.  "  The  bed 
is  very  broad." 

"  Recline  upon  it,"  he  suggested.  "  I  do  not 
need  the  fan — the  breeze  is  strong — only  your 
hand  upon  my  forehead.  I  must  have  that. 
Only  a  little  while  and  I  will  be  asleep.  You 
can  then  leave  me  and  go  to  your  chamber." 

He  extended  his  right  hand  toward  her.  It 
touched  her  arm,  which  rested  upon  the  bed, 
measuring  the  vacant  interval  from  her  position 
to  his  head.  He  grasped  it  and  held  it  firmly. 
It  came  slowly  toward  him,  and  again  her  hand 
stroked  his  forehead.  She  pushed  an  unused 
pillow  upward  against  the  head-board  and  rested 


SEBALTHA.  155 

her  shoulder  upon  it,  her  head  upon  her  open 
left  hand. 

The  clock  in  the  dome  of  the  City  Hall  struck 
nine.  Its  mellow  tones  died  away  toward  the 
mountain,  and  no  sound  came  into  the  parlor, 
except  the  pattering  of  water. in  the  court  foun 
tain.  The  soft  hand  gently  stroked  his  forehead, 
and  the  face  below  it  smiled;  not  a  smile  of 
love,  for  the  eyes  were  turned  from  her;  not 
of  gratitude,  for  the  thin  lips,  tightly  closed, 
withheld  speech;  not  of  relief  from  pain,  for 
his  heated  blood  had  cooled  while  he  slept,  but 
a  smile  of  triumph — such  as  might  be  on  the 
face  of  Satan  at  fallen  innocence.  He  smiled; 
this  was  all  that  she  saw;  and  the  soft  hand 
pressed  closer  upon  his  forehead  in  gratitude. 

The  smile  deepened  among  the  lines  of  his 
face.  The  soft  hand  still  stroked  his  forehead, 
yet  more  slowly  than  at  first.  Slowly  it  moved 
in  devious  ways,  as  if  by  its  own  volition.  He 
turned  his  eyes  stealthily  toward  her.  Her 
hand  moved  downward  and  stroked  his  cheek, 
slowly  and  aimlessly.  It  stopped  and  rested 


156 


SERALTHA. 


there.  He  saw  her  eyes  close.  Her  head  slipped 
from  the  tired  hand  and  fell  near  to  his.  He 
felt  her  warm  hreath  on  his  face  I  The  clock 
in  the  dome  struck  ten. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Hamilton  Tucker  returned  to  San 
Francisco  from  the  scene  of  his  recent 
adventures,  he  bore  authority  from  Chalmer 
Grose  that  multiplied  his  duties.  The  private 
interests  of  his  employer  were  now  in  his  care. 

The  grain  ranch  of  Chalmer  Grose  received 
first  attention.  He  went  there  on  the  second 
day  after  his  arrival  at  home,  in  company  with 
the  foreman  of  the  barn  on  Pine  street.  Car 
penters  began  work  on  an  addition  to  the  ranch 
stable  the  next  morning,  with  the  foreman  as 
director.  Hamilton  Tucker  returned  to  the 
city  and  spent  the  remainder  of  the  day,  after 
his  arrival  there,  in  a  minute  survey  of  interiors 
of  various  structures  on  business  streets,  con 
versing  in  the  meantime,  with  occupants  and 
janitors. 

This  he  continued  through  the  following  day. 
Finding  offices  and  store-rooms  untenanted,  he 

(157) 


158  SEEALTHA. 

caused  placards  to  be  attached  to  the  doors  of 
vacant  premises,  which  read: 

"  Far  Bent. 

Apply  to 

Hamilton  Tucker. 
No.  12  Hotel  Havencourt  Block." 

At  nine  in  the  morning  of  the  following  day, 
Hamilton  Tucker  eat  before  his  desk,  writing  a 
letter  of  several  pages.  Seated  at  another  desk, 
his  wife,  Hermina,  wrote  dates  and  head  lines 
in  new  account  books,  then  prepared  a  type 
writer  for  service,  in  the  operation  of  which  she 
seemed  familiar. 

Having  completed  his  writing,  he  turned  to 
ward  his  wife  and,  with  the  letter  held  out  be 
fore  him,  exclaimed: 

"Business!" 

Although  in  speaking  this  word  he  had  em 
ployed  a  louder  tone  than  that  usual  in  his  con 
versation,  Hermina,  whose  face  was  turned  par 
tially  away  from  him,  continued  with  her  prac 
tice  on  the  typewriter. 

"Business,  I  say!"     He  spoke  louder   than 


SEBALTHA.  159 

before,  and  she  quietly  turned,  looking  at  him 
without  response,  except  the  inquiry  conveyed 
by  her  eyes. 

"  When  I  say  '  Business '  in  this  office  or  any 
where  else  that  we  are  together  on  business,  as 
if  that  word  was  somebody's  name,  I'll  always 
mean  you." 

Hermina  made  no  response.  He  reflected 
awhile,  still  holding  the  letter  in  his  hand,  and 
then  continued: 

"  A  business  man  don't  want  everybody  to 
know  that  his  wife  is  typewriting  and  book 
keeping,  so  I  can't  say  '  Mrs.  Tucker.'  I  can't 
say  '  Hermina/  or  '  Mina,'  or  names  of  that  sort 
— men  might  think  you  wasn't  particular  with 
your  employer.  Men  are  fools,  and  you  are 
good-looking.  It  wouldn't  be  your  fault.  You 
don't  want  any  more  trouble.  You  have  had 
one,  and  you  ain't  looking  for  any  more.  But 
they  might,  and  then  there  would  be  trouble 
right  here  in  this  office.  So,  when  I  want  you, 
I'll  say  'Business! '  about  like  that." 

Hamilton  Tucker  raised  one  foot  upward  and 


160  SEBALTHA. 

placed  it  on  his  desk,  at  the  same  time  tilting 
his  chair  far  backward.  Hermina  still  looked  at 
him  inquiringly. 

"  Yes,  there  is  something  more/'  he  continued. 
"You  didn't  act  right  up  there  in  the  mountains, 
somehow.  You  and  the  girl  got  at  outs.  You 
must  have  said  something  to  her  that  lacked 
judgment.  Now,  I'll  tell  you,  I  have  got  a  good 
job  here,  tending  to  them  buildings  and  that 
ranch,  and  if  you  disturb  it  with  any  of  your 
nonsense  there  is  going  to  be  trouble.  Mr.  Chal- 
mer  Grose  knows  that  you  are  coming  in  here 
to  keep  the  books  and  do  typewriting,  and  he 
didn't  say  a  word  against  a  hundred  a  month 
for  you.  You  ought  to  have  some  sense.  It 
was  all  arranged  before  we  started  for  the  moun 
tains,  and  our  first  month's  salary  was  paid  to 
me.  You  knew  what  some  of  it  was  for.  I  mar 
ried  you  because  I  thought  you  had  good  sense. 
He  thinks  that  you  have — said  so  the  last  talk  I 
had  with  him — said  you  proved  it  by  keeping  away 
from  him  after  he  was  hurt  and  giving  the  girl 
a  clear  field  to  take  care  of  him.  I  may  own  a 


SERALTHA.  161 

grain  ranch  if  you  don't  give  him  a  reason  to 
think  otherwise.  Typewrite  this  letter." 

She  obeyed,  and  gave  her  work  to  him  in  a 
complete  form,  which  he  enclosed  and  sealed  in 
an  envelope.  What  Hamilton  Tucker  saw  in 
her  pale  face,  as  she  gave  the  copy  to  him,  he  be 
lieved  to  be  fear.  After  giving  her  instructions 
relating  to  the  mission  of  possible  callers  during 
his  absence,  he  passed  out  of  the  office,  con 
tented  to  think  that  she  was  safely  within  his 
control. 

After  posting  the  letter,  he  called  a  cab  and 
was  driven  to  the  barn  on  Pine  street.  Dis 
missing  the  cabman,  he  then  superintended  the 
transfer  of  the  horses,  except  three,  to  the  rail 
way  station  for  shipment  to  the  grain  ranch. 
The  carriages  were  drawn  by  the  three  reserved 
horses  to  a  down-town  livery  stable,  situated  a 
short  walking  distance  from  the  Hotel  Haven- 
court.  A  telephone  message  at  the  barn  brought 
an  auctioneer's  van  that  carried  awav  bedding 

*>  <~j 

and  furniture.     At  noon  the  barn  was  deserted, 


162  SERALTHA. 

the  double  doors  of  the  carriage-room  gaping 
open  as  if  inviting  sympathy  of  passers-by  to 
the  loneliness  within. 

Prosperity  favored  the'  business  affairs  of  No. 
12  Hotel  Havencourt  Block.  Within  ten  days 
Hamilton  Tucker  had  secured  tenants  for  all 
store-rooms  and  offices  heretofore  vacant  in  the 
houses  over  which  Chalmer  Grose  had  granted 
him  supervision,  except  one.  Upon  this  one 
no  "  For  Kent "  placard  had  been  placed.  This 
was  upon  Market  street. 

This  thoroughfare  pushes  its  broad  surface 
through  the  city  of  San  Francisco  from  the  fer 
ries  on  the  bay  to  the  southwestern  limit.  Be 
low  this  street,  to  the  eastward,  all  other  streets 
are  laid  squarely  with  it,  but  not  in  conformity 
with  the  four  cardinal  points  of  the  compass. 
Beyond  its  western  line  proprieties  of  direction 
are  observed  by  all  the  streets,  that  portion  of 
the  city  seeming  to  have  been  pushed  south 
ward  and  wrinkled  into  hills.  Market  street 
is  not  intersected  by  any  other.  It  inter 
cepts.  It  devours.  It  builds  again  from  itself, 


SEBALTHA.  163 

upon  the  east  in  right  angles,  upon  the  west  in 
acute.  It  names  and  numbers  from  itself,  and 
gives  no  heed  to  continuity  of  passage  across 
and  beyond,  but  ends  a  street,  perhaps,  against 
the  middle  of  an  opposite  block  or  within  a  few 
doors  of  its  limit,  seemingly  as  chance  might 
have  directed. 

In  one  of  these  acute  angles  upon  the  westerly 
side  of  Market  street  Chalmer  Grose  had  erected 
a  building  of  four  stories  and  basement,  which 
was,  at  the  time  of  Hamilton  Tucker's  advent 
as  agent,  partially  occupied  above  the  ground 
floor  for  office  purposes  and  the  remaining  space 
for  those  of  a  lodging  house.  Retail  shops  of 
various  sorts  filled  the  ground  floor  of  either 
street,  except  the  space  within  the  apex  of  the 
angle,  which  extended  back  from  the  point 
some  thirty  feet.  This  space  was  protected 
from  intrusion  by  a  rough  board  screen,  which, 
resting  upon  the  sidewalk,  allowed  sufficient 
space  for  a  passage  between  itself  and  the  build 
ing.  A  door  secured  by  a  heavy  hasp  and  pad 
lock  gave  entrance  through  the  screen.  Plate- 


164:  SERALTHA. 

glass  doors  opened  into  a  room,  occupying  this 
space.  This  was  the  room  upon  which  no 
"  For  Rent "  placard  had  been  placed.  Hamil 
ton  Tucker  made  many  figures  during  spare 
moments,  based  upon  a  rental  valuation  of  this 
room,  found  upon  a  plan  of  the  entire  building, 
which  he  kept  in  the  cabinet  of  his  desk. 

That  this  room  was  of  special  interest  to  him, 
became  evident  from  his  frequent  visits  to  it. 
The  first  visit  he  made  during  the  evening  of 
the  fourth  day  after  taking  possession  of  the 
office,  12  Hotel  Havencourt  Block.  Unfasten 
ing  the  padlock,  he  passed  inside  the  screen  and 
along  the  passage  to  one  of  the  plate-glass  doors. 
Entering  the  room,  he  drew  a  candle  from 
his  pocket  and  lighted  it.  Masses  of  sparkling 
reflections  answered  the  dim  light  of  the  candle 
from  gorgeous  chandeliers,  and  from  a  deep 
wainscoting  of  Mexican  onyx  about  the  room. 
A  nickel-plated  balustrade  guarded  a  stairway 
to  a  basement  of  the  same  dimensions  as  the 
room  above,  and  of  similar  appearance.  After  a 
full  survey  of  the  premises  he  blew  out  the 


SEKALTHA.  165 

light  and  went  upon  the  street.  The  time  was 
nine  o'clock.  The  moon  shone  full  from  a  sky 
unblemished  by  a  cloud. 

San  Francisco  has  but  one  boulevard — that  of 
the  Park,  used  only  by  day;  but  one  promenade, 
used  by  shoppers  and  strangers  from  morning 
until  nightfall,  and  by  everybody  thereafter  far 
into  the  night — the  western  side  of  Market  and 
Kearny  streets. 

The  ocean  winds  that  blow  over  the  city  by 
day,  sending  a  chill  through  furs  and  fluttering 
skirts,  change  to  gentle  breezes,  that  soothe  with 
satin  touch,  as  the  sun  sinks  into  the  western 
waters. 

The  world  is  on  this  promenade  from  dusk 
till  midnight.  The  California!!  woman  unveils 
her  suberb  complexion  in  defiance  of  a  thousand 
electric  lights  in  shop  and  street.  They  of  the 
East  walk  here,  in  search  of  health.  Envy 
spreads  over  their  faces  in  ghastly  white  as  the 
native  passes  by  them.  The  woman  who  drives 
by  day  upon  the  boulevard  walks  here  in  the 


166  SERALTHA. 

evening,  bringing  with  her  sons  and  daughters, 
friends  and  husband. 

Hamilton  Tucker  did  not  walk  among  the 
people.  He  stood  upon  the  edge  of  the  side 
walk  opposite  to  the  vacant  room,  and  counted 
those  who  passed  by  it.  He  then  went  two 
blocks  toward  the  ferries  and  noticed  those  who 
passed  before  an  occupied  room  of  similar 
shape  and  position  at  the  junction  of  the  streets. 
Fewer  people  passed  the  vacant  room  than 
the  occupied  one,  two  blocks  below.  Many  peo 
ple  turned  into  the  side  streets  from  the  lower 
blocks.  The  vacant  room  was  just  above  the 
more  desirable  localities  for  trade,  and  the  shops 
in  its  vicinity  were  of  a  class  lower  than  those 
below.  But  the  city  was  growing  rapidly  toward 
the  southwest.  He  crossed  the  street  and 
entered  the  occupied  room.  It  was  a  gorgeously- 
furnished  saloon.  He  there  conversed  with  a 
barkeeper. 

After  several  visits  to  the  vacant  room,  Hamil 
ton  Tucker  entered  it  one  evening  in  company 
with  two  men,  one  wearing  a  high-crowned  hat 


SEBALTHA.  167 

and  a  light  overcoat,  with  velvet  lapels  thrown 
far  back  and  extending  below  the  waist.  The 
other  man  wore  a  slouch  hat  and  was  stoop- 
shouldered.  During  the  evening  the  man  of 
the  slouch  hat  considered  the  speech  and  fig 
ures  made  by  the  others — especially  Hamilton 
Tucker — with  suspicion.  Later  on,  he  gave 
evidence  of  interest,  and  upon  leaving  the  room, 
at  twelve  o'clock,  the  conduct  of  each  one  showed 
a  unity  of  thought  and  purpose  with  the  others. 
They  went  upon  the  street  and  walked  to  the 
Hotel  Havencourt  bar,  where  they  called  for 
and  were  served  with  the  liquors  of  their  choice. 

Hamilton  Tucker  then  raised  his  glass  and 
turned  his  face  toward  his  companions,  who 
raised  their  glasses  and  turned  their  faces 
toward  him. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  Hamilton  Tucker,  im 
pressively,  "it's  a  proud  day."  He  hesitated. 
The  man  who  wore  a  slouch  hat  lowered  his 
glass  to  the  edge  of  the  bar  and  looked  down 
into  it.  Hamilton  Tucker  saw  this  move 
ment,  and  turning  to  face  the  man  fully,  he 


168  SEBALTHA. 

said:  "  It's  a  late  day,  I  know;  but  it's  a  proud 
day."  Touching  the  glass  that  rested  upon  the 
edge  of  the  bar  with  his  own,  which  he  then 
raised  to  a  level  with  his  hat,  he  added:  "Here's 
to  the  Calaveras !  May  she  win  us  all  a  grain 
ranch." 

'"May  she  win  three  thousand  in  six  hours," 
responded  the  man  in  the  slouch  hat,  still  hold 
ing  his  glass  upon  the  edge  of  the  bar. 

Hamilton  Tucker  involuntarily  looked  through 
the  open  door  of  the  corridor  leading  to  the 
cinch  room. 

"  May  she  pay  expenses  the  first  year,"  said 
the  man  of  the  tall  hat  and  velvet  lapels. 

"  Huh!  "  exclaimed  Hamilton  Tucker. 

"Sense!"  responded  the  man  of  the  slouch 
hat. 

"  Sure!"  said  the  man  of  the  velvet  lapels. 

The  glasses  were  raised,  the  contents  drunk. 
The  party  filed  out  at  the  door  in  the  same 
order  observed  upon  entering. 

'  The  Three '  from  Calaveras !  "  exclaimed  an 
old  patron  of  the  bar,  who  came  in  by  the  way 


SEBALTHA.  169 

of  an  interior  door  at  the  instant  that  the  party 
was  filing  out. 

"  What  is  that  ?"  queried  the  barkeeper,  as 
the  patron  approached  the  bar. 

"  Before  you  came,"  answered  the  patron. 
"  I'll  tell  you  some  other  time;  too  late  now. 
Give  me  a  reposer  and  I'll  go  to  bed." 

In  the  evening,  just  two  weeks  from  the  date 
of  the  above  dialogues,  much  music  from  brass 
instruments  poured  out  from  the  room  hereto 
fore  vacant  in  the  acute  angles  of  Market  and 

streets.  Ornamented  signs  above  the 

plate-glass  doors  of  either  street  blazoned  the 
words,  "  The  Calaveras."  Within,  a  bar  of 
curly  redwood  spread  its  polished  length  across 
the  wider  end  of  the  room,  blending  its  tints 
with  the  Mexican  onyx  wainscoting  and  front 
ing  an  elaborate  sideboard,  surmounted  by  two 
plate-glass  mirrors  joined  in  a  gilded  frame  that 
touched  the  frescoes  above  and  the  walls  upon 
either  side.  A  collection  of  meats,  sauces  and 
preserves,  of  fowls,  salads  and  shell-fish  covered 
an  ample  table  placed  in  the  center  of  the  room. 


170  SEBALTHA. 

Men  who  entered  singly,  in  pairs  and  in  groups, 
partook  of  things  to  eat  and  things  to  drink, 
and  spoke  words  of  encouragement,  between  sips 
and  mouthfuls,  to  a  man  who  stood  at  one  end 
of  the  bar  giving  much  attention  to  the  move 
ments  of  three  barkeepers  in  service ;  he  wore  a 
tall  hat  and  a  light  overcoat  with  velvet  lapels. 

Four  rooms  had  been  constructed  in  the  base 
ment — two  upon  either  side  of  a  narrow  hall 
way,  ventilated  by  double  windows  opening  into 
the  sidewalk  areas.  Soft  carpets  covered  the 
floors  and  a  lounge  invited  to  repose  in  each  one 
of  the  four  rooms,  and  in  each  stood  a  heav}r 
round  table  covered  with  a  green  cloth,  upon 
which  rested  a  call  bell.  Easy  chairs  were 
placed  about  these.  Perforations  about  two 
inches  in  length  and  one-fourth  of  an  inch  in 
width  and  adorned  with  an  oblong  silver  or 
nickel  plate  showed  through  the  green  cloth 
cover  in  the  exact  centre  of  the  tables. 

Although  possessing  an  equal  interest  with 
Monroe  Chase  in  "  The  Calaveras,"  neither 
Hamilton  Tucker  nor  Chance  Neely  was  present 


SEBALTHA.  171 

at  its  opening,  nor  were  they  seen  thereabout. 
Upon  the  books  of  wholesale  liquor  dealers  the 
words,  "  open  account "  appeared  opposite  the 
firm  name,  "  Monroe  Chase  &  Co." 

Hamilton  Tucker  continued  in  business  at  No. 
12  Hotel  Havencourt  Block,  while  Chance  Neely 
pursued  the  mysterious  sinner  at  his  desk  in 
the  rooms  of  the  private  detective  agency. 
However,  during  evening  hours,  both  frequented 
"  The  Calaveras,"  bringing  with  them  friends 
and  acquaintances,  who  drank  much  over  the 
redwood  bar,  and  played  cards  at  the  perforated 
tables  in  the  basement  rooms. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

twelve  o'clock  of  the  night,  in 
which  the  opening  of  "  The  Calaveras" 
was  celebrated  with  music  and  feasting,  a  man 
wearing  a  heavy  sack  coat,  loosely  fitting  his 
waist  and  shoulders,  but  tightly  buttoned  at  his 
neck;  brown  jean  overalls  over  checkered  trous 
ers  upturned  around  the  legs  of  well-fitting  boots 
with  round  toes  and  very  high  heels,  and  a  broad 
hat,  dingy  white,  of  stiff  rim  and  conical  crown, 
walked  about  the  three  apartments  of  the  hut 
in  the  artificial  glen. 

A  knitted  scarf  of  intermingling  colors  cov 
ered  his  lower  face  in  triple  folds,  and,  crossing 
under  his  chin,  extended  upward  into  the  crown 
of  his  hat,  covering  his  ears  and  side  face.  He 
made  a  selection  from  clothing  which  hung  from 
the  canvas  lining  of  the  second  apartment,  and, 
taking  the  articles  into  the  first  one,  he  put 
them  upon  blankets  that  lay  half  opened  on 

(172) 


SERALTHA.  173 

the  floor.  He  then  went  into  the  third  apart 
ment,  and,  setting  on  the  rock  floor  a  tin  candle 
stick  which  held  half  of  a  sputtering  candle, 
with  his  fingers  he  dug  pebbles  and  fragments 
of  stone  from  a  fissure  in  the  floor.  He  after 
ward  picked  coins  from  the  depth  of  the  fissure, 
carefully  counted  them  twice,  and,  wrapping 
them  in  a  cloth,  he  returned  to  the  first  apart 
ment.  Raising  the  lid  of  the  coffin-shaped  box, 
he  began  a  search  within  it.  He  obtained  what 
he  sought,  and  replaced  the  lid  and  sat  upon  it. 
He  held  the  object  close  to  the  light  and  looked 
steadily  at  it. 

The  palm  upon  which  the  object  rested,  his 
wrists  and  the  backs  of  his  hands,  and  the  nar 
row  strip  of  face  revealed  between  his  hat  and 
scarf,  suggested  in  color  a  mingling  of  copper 
and  gold.  His  hair,  concealed  in  front  and 
upon  either  side  by  hat  and  scarf,  was  short, 
coarse  and  glossy  black,  and  extended  far  down 
upon  his  sinewy  neck. 

His  attitude  at  first  seemed  reposeful,  as  of 
one  in  deliberate  examination  and  deeply  inter- 


174  SEBALTHA. 

ested.  He  soon  began  to  turn  the  object  about. 
His  eyes  now  shone  with  a  deeper  brown.  He 
interlaced  his  fingers,  clasping  the  object  within 
his  palms,  and,  lifting  his  hands  above  his  head, 
he  sprang  from  his  seat  and  walked  rapidly  to 
and  fro  over  the  stone  floor  of  the  first  apart 
ment,  then  into  the  second  and  around  and 
about  it.  Vowel  sounds,  suggesting  the  Spanish 
language,  were  constantly  forced  through  his 
scarf  as  he  walked;  no  labial  sounds  mingled 
with  them.  Thrice  he  walked  in  the  darkness 
around  the  second  apartment,  and,  returning  to 
the  first  one,  he  unclasped  his  hands  as  he 
approached  the  coffin-shaped  box.  After  stamp 
ing  violently  upon  the  rock  floor  he  sat  again 
upon  the  box  and  held  the  object  upon  the  palm 
of  his  hand  in  the  light  of  the  candle. 

This  object  was  of  lead,  its  surface  corroded 
by  age.  It  was  rounded  to  half  its  length,  the 
other  half  being  shattered,  flattened  and  in 
dented.  It  had  once  been  a  bullet  of  a  Win 
chester  rifle. 

Eleven  years  had  passed   since   this  bullet 


SERALTHA.  175 

had     served    a    sinister     purpose.       A     lover 
clicked  it   into  the   cartridge-chamber,   and   a 
flash  behind  it  burned   murder  into  the   soul 
of  this  man.     He  stood  in  the  doorway  of  a  hut 
made   of  logs   and   adobe   and  thickly   roofed 
with    branches    of    mountain    fir.      The     hut 
rested    upon    a    bed   of   loose    rock    that   had 
been  excavated  with  pick  and  lever  from  the 
face  of  a  steep  declivity  in   the  mountains  of 
Western  Nevada.     The  rock  was  dark  and  mot 
tled.    It  sparkled  in  the  sunlight  as  if  from  tiny 
drops  of  dew  upon  the  points  of  its  scabrous 
surface.     While  searching  the  wilderness  about 
him  the  man  in  the  doorway  had  found  it  and 
then  built  a  hut  upon  it.     It  was  the  outcrop  of 
a  silver  mine.   He  had  staked  out  the  boundaries 
of  his  claim  and  had  posted  a  notice  of  discovery 
and  ownership.    The  notice  was  in  Spanish,  and 
the  name  underneath  was  Juan  Bermuda. 

Yet  Juan  Bermuda  was  not  a  Spaniard;  tints 
of  metallic  colors  showed  upon  his  face  and  in 
his  eyes,  that  of  copper  prevailing,  although  he 
was  not  an  Indian.  The  proud  Castilian  and 


176  SEEALTHA. 

the  complaisant  Indian  created  another  race, 
anomalous  and  distinct.  Juan  Bermuda  was  a 
Mexican. 

Contentedly  he  looked  oat  from  the  door  of 
his  hut  at  sunset  upon  his  discovery,  upon  the 
stakes  along  the  declivity  and  upon  the  notice. 
As  he  stood  there  the  bullet  sped  toward  him, 
aimed  from,  a  clump  of  chaparral  growing  upon 
the  elevation  to  his  right.  He  reeled  backward 
and  fell  to  the  floor  of  his  hut,  blood  pouring 
from  his  mouth  in  jets.  From  the  hurt  upon 
his  face  the  slug  had  passed  on.  It  penetrated 
the  log  door  casing,  and,  turned  aside  by  the 
adobe  in  the  wall,  it  dropped  to  the  floor  beside 
him,  together  with  fragments  of  the  wall. 

In  his  agony  he  grasped  about  himself,  crush 
ing  the  fragments  of  adobe  within  his  hands. 
Something  resisted,  cutting  the  fingers  and  palm 
of  his  right  hand.  Forgetful  of  the  wound  in 
his  face,  he  sprang  to  his  feet  to  examine  the 
battered  bullet  that  had  caused  another  pain- 
He  staggered  to  the  doorway,  and,  stepping  out 
side,  turned  the  missile  over  and  over  again  with 


SEBALTHA.  177 

his  uninjured  hand  in  the  bright  light  of  the 
open  air.  Another  bullet  whizzing  by  his  ear 
threw  splinters  of  wood  and  a  shower  of  adobe 
from  the  wall  of  the  hut  to  the  ground  before 
him.  The  report  that  followed  from  the 
rifle  in  the  clump  of  chaparral,  caused  him 
to  look  in  that  direction.  He  saw  a  light  puff 
of  smoke,  whitened  by  the  shadows  of  approach 
ing  twilight.  Still  another  bullet  hissed  by  him, 
this  time  nearer.  Other  splinters  and  a  shower 
of  adobe  pattered  upon  the  ground  before  him, 
and  then  another  report  came  from  the  clump 
of  chaparral.  Juan  Bermuda  sprang  over 
the  low  parapet  of  mottled  rocks  raised  upon 
the  declivity  to  secure  the  foundation  of  his  hut 
and,  with  the  battered  bullet  in  his  hand,  ran 
swiftly  to  the  denser  shrubbery  and  pines  grow 
ing  below,  other  messengers  from  the  Winches 
ter  rifle  hissing  above  and  around  him. 

He  who  aimed  the  rifle  did  not  follow,  yet 
Juan  Bermuda  ran  through  gorges,  over  moun 
tain  spurs  and  across  a  plain,  until  midnight. 
He  ran  along  the  way  by  which  he  came  into 


178  SEEALTHA. 

the  mountains,  and  halted  beside  a  stream  that 
hurried  from  the  plain  through  a  steep  and  nar 
row  gorge  in  falls  and  swirls  and  foaming  cas 
cades.  He  threw  himself  down  beside  the  stream, 
near  the  verge  of  the  uppermost  fall,  and  bathed 
his  hands,  his  neck,  and  the  wound  in  his  face. 
Bending  far  over  the  stream,  he  put  his  face 
into  it  to  drink.  No  water  responding  to  the 
draught  of  his  lips,  he  sank  his  face  deeper  into 
the  stream.  His  throat  refused  its  functions;  he 
could  not  swallow. 

He  sprang  to  his  feet,  and,  clasping  his 
wounded  hand  over  his  mouth  and  the  other 
about  his  throat,  he  looked  upward  into  the  sky, 
to  the  bright  full  moon  directly  over  him,  floated 
low  by  the  clear  mountain  air.  He  reeled,  as 
he  had  done  on  the  floor  of  his  hut,  with  his 
face  still  upturned  toward  the  sky.  A  discol 
ored  patch  upon  the  glistening  water  where  his 
face  had  touched  moved  slowly  toward  the  verge 
of  the  gorge. 

A  death  that  clutches  the  throat  and  chokes 
with  thirst  is  a  demon  torture.  Smothered  in 


SEEALTHA.  179 

that  which  it  denies,  death  comes  welcomed. 
Juan  Bermuda  reeled  to  the  edge  of  the  shining 
stream,  and,  throwing  himself  into  the  midst  of 
the  dark  patch  upon  its  surface,  he  sank  with  it 
over  the  verge  of  the  waterfall. 

Stifled  screams  from  below  arose  above  the 
noise  of  splashing  water,  and  harsh,  guttural 
imprecations,  crept  downward  along  the  gorge. 
The  fall  was  slight,  yet  rounded  and  slippery 
boulders  lay  in  the  shallow  stream,  and  upon 
these  he  had  fallen  and  been  rolled  among  them 
by  the  rushing  water  far  down  to  a  merciful, 
quiet  pool.  From  this  he  drew  himself  upon 
the  rocks  along  its  edge,  angry,  bruised  and 
sore. 

Resting  awhile  he  picked  his  way  along  the 
gorge.  He  passed  by  a  placid  lake,  enclosed  by 
terraced  pines  and  among  weird  painted  rocks, 
to  a  grass  expanse,  at  the  farther  side  of  which 
stood  low  buildings  of  adobe,  log  and  cornstalk 
walls,  and  grass  or  tule  roofs  covered  with  dew 
that  sparkled  in  the  sun. 

This  was  a  small  Mexican  settlement  on  the 


180  SEBALTHA. 

borders  of  a  new  mountain  town.  He  rapped 
upon  a  door  and  was  admitted.  It  was  a  year 
thereafter  when  he  first  emerged  from  it  with 
his  lower  face  wrapped  in  a  knitted  scarf  of 
triple  folds,  the  ends  crossing  under  his  chin 
and  secured  beneath  the  crown  of  his  hat.  Hot 
fevers  had  dried  his  blood,  and  his  hands  were 
thin  and  claw-like.  Fierce  chills  had  shaken 
and  withered  his  muscles.  The  bullet  from  the 
Winchester  rifle  had  entered  his  face  at  the 
right  corner  of  his  mouth,  and,  shattering  his 
teeth  in  its  course,  had  emerged  at  the  left  cor 
ner,  passing  into  the  log  door-casing.  Flying 
fragments  of  teeth  had  cut  his  lips  to  shreds, 
and  cruel  gangrene  had  left  a  cavity,  through 
which  he  had  become  enabled  to  eat  and  drink, 
and  in  which  a  dampened  sponge  rested  when 
he  was  not  thus  engaged.  He  had  no  money, 
and  proper  surgery  was  impossible.  Nature 
and  his  Mexican  friends  did  their  best  for  him, 
and  patching  the  evidence  of  their  incompetency 
with  sponge  and  scarf,  he  stepped  into  the  world 
again.  He  could  not  converse,  except  in  writing. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

sHEN  able  to  withstand  the  fatigue  Juan 
Bermuda  started  upon  a  journey  to 
his  mine  in  company  with  a  Mexican  friend, 
who  had  treated  him  kindly.  He  had  made  no 
mention  of  his  mine  during  his  illness,  fearing 
treachery.  This,  or  revenge,  is  what  the  Mexi 
can  looks  for  behind  rock  and  chaparral,  in 
market,  fandango  and  chamber. 

A  wagon  road  wound  through  the  expanse  of 
green  over  which  he  had  walked  a  year  before. 
A  wagon  road  led  through  the  tinted  rocks,  over 
which  he  had  painfully  clambered,  and  around 
the  pine-encircled  lake.  He  stood  gazing  up 
ward  in  astonishment  as  he  traced  its  sharp 
grade  above  the  cataracts  where  he  had  battled 
with  stream  and  boulder.  He  walked  slowly  and 
thoughtfully  as  he  crossed  the  plain  above, 
then  sat  by  the  road  among  the  spurs  in  deep 
meditation;  he  had  found  a  piece  of  mottled 

(181) 


182  SERALTHA. 

rock  that  sparkled  as  with  dew  upon  the  points 
of  its  surface. 

A  wagon  road  led  him  to  the  mine,  but  his 
hut  was  not  there,  nor  its  foundation,  nor  his 
claim  stakes,  nor  the  notice,  nor  the  bunch  of 
chaparral  from  which  puffs  of  white  smoke 
arose  in  the  twilight  a  year  before.  But  an 
engine  was  there,  puffing  laboriously  as  it  drew 
heavy  loads  of  mottled  rock  out  of  a  deep  shaft 
that  pierced  the  ground  where  his  hut  had  stood, 
and  men  were  there  who  laughed  scornful^ 
when  he  reproduced  the  notice  on  a  scrap  of 
paper,  and  wrote  upon  another  demanding  pos 
session  of  his  mine,  signing  his  name,  Juan 
Bermuda.  They  showed  to  him  a  printed  form 
bearing  official  signatures  that  recognized  the 
ownership,  and  gave  possession  of  the  mine  to 
one  Chalmer  Grose,  resident  of  the  city  of  San 
Francisco,  county  of  San  Francisco,  State  of 
California,  and  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  of 
America. 

Juan  Bermuda  copied  the  names  and  the  im 
posing  array  of  localities  upon  a  slip  of  paper, 


SEKALTHA.  183 

and  he  and  his  companion  went  away  down  the 
declivity  where  the  bullets  from  the  Winchester 
rifle  had  hissed  about  his  head  a  year  before, 
and  where  fragments  of  ore  from  his  mine  were 
now  strewn  over  a  road  that  led  to  smelters  in 
the  mountain  city.  At  the  foot  of  the  declivity 
he  stopped  and  looked  upward  toward  the  mine. 
Puffs  of  steam,  fleecy  white  in  the  deepening 
twilight,  arose  in  measured  volumes  from  the 
engine  that  drew  from  his  mine,  yet  labored  for 
another.  He  took  the  battered  bullet  from  his 
pocket,  and  held  it  toward  the  engine  with  the 
thumb  and  finger  of  his  left  hand.  Lifting  his 
right  hand  above  his  head,  and  with  his 
eyes  fixed  upon  the  bullet,  he  forced  harsh 
guttural  sounds  through  the  triple  folds  of  the 
knitted  scarf,  that  bore  the  tones  of  mingled 
prayer,  threat  and  imprecation.  Increasing  the 
vehemence  of  the  muffled  sounds,  he  raised  his 
left  hand  to  a  level  with  his  right,  and,  looking 
upward  into  the  darkening  sky,  turned  round 
and  round  upon  the  road,  stamping  his  feet  and 


184  SERALTHA. 

grinding  his  heels  against  its  flinty  surface. 
His  companion  made  the  sign  of  the  Cross. 

Revenge  is  akin  to  insanity.  It  broods  upon 
fixed  ideas.  Like  the  hallucination  of  mania, 
it  creates  a  figure  amidst  unchanging  scenery 
and  rivets  the  creation  upon  the  brain. 

Juan  Bermuda  immediately  returned  to  San 
Francisco  whence  he  had  come  into  the  moun 
tains  two  years  before  the  discovery  of  the 
mine.  Upon  the  day  of  his  arrival  there,  he 
visited  the  office  of  a  physician  who  was  popu 
lar  among  the  Mexican  people  of  that  city,  in 
the  vain  hope  that  the  severity  of  his  affliction 
might  be  mitigated.  In  this  office  he  met  Lethe 
St.  Pier,  who  was  there  in  the  interest  of  her 
calling  as  nurse,  and  who  gave  him  kindly 
notice.  When  he  went  upon  the  street  she  fol 
lowed  him,  and,  taking  his  arm,  she  walked 
about  with  him  to  various  shops  and  furnishing 
stores,  where  he  selected  clothing  of  Mexican 
style  and  colors,  which  he  wore  when  they  came 
again  upon  the  street.  As  he  could  not  con 
verse  intelligibly,  and  she  could  not  read  nor 


SEBALTIIA.  185 

write,  their  methods  of  communication  were 
adjusted  to  these  conditions. 

On  the  following  da}'  he  began  to  work  in  the 
glen,  and  within  a  week  he  had  completed  the 
hut,  building  after  the  manner  of  his  people. 
Lethe  St.  Pier  went  there  with  him,  and,  re 
maining,  she  cared  for  him  during  ten  years, 
until  she  took  possession  of  the  house  on  Pine 
street,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  she  owned 
valuable  property  on  a  popular  business  street. 

Whenever  Juan  Bermuda  left  the  hut  to  go 
upon  the  streets  he  wore  the  scarf  of  triple  folds. 
This  was  not  often,  and  occurred  usually  be 
tween  eight  and  twelve  in  the  evening.  Chal- 
mer  Grose  was  the  legal  owner  of  the  mine  that 
should  be  his;  and  to  see  Chalmer  Grose,  to 
know  him  when  they  met  by  night,  to  feel 
assured  that  he  should  know  him  in  utter  dark 
ness,  to  know  his  habits,  his  coming  and  going 
during  the  night,  covered  all  the  purposes  of 
Juan  Bermuda  when  absent  from  the  hut,  except 
that  he  sometimes  went  upon  journeys  to  the 
country,  taking  with  him  blankets  and  provi- 


186  SEBALTHA. 

sions.  These  journeys  extended  over  several 
days,  and  included  visits  to  Mexican  settlements 
not  far  distant  from  the  city.  Upon  his  return 
to  the  hut  he  brought  many  long  hlack  hairs 
from  the  manes  and  tails  of  horses,  besides 
chile  peppers  and  herbs. 

Had  he  sought  revenge  by  ordinary  methods, 
a  score  of  opportunities  had  been  afforded  him 
during  these  years  for  the  use  of  pistol,  club  or 
knife  on  Chalmer  Grose,  under  circumstances 
favorable  to  his  escape;  but  revenge  had  traced 
a  scene  upon  his  brain  for  him  to  reproduce  in 
action.  He  waited. 

While  he  again  sat  upon  the  coffin-shaped 
box,  looking  upon  the  battered  bullet,  memo 
ries  clustered  about  the  scene  that  revenge  had 
traced,  and  a  smile  lighted  his  eyes  and  showed 
in  the  moving  folds  of  his  scarf,  as  if  that 
which  he  had  sought  was  near  at  hand.  Arising, 
he  put  tlie  bullet  into  an  inner  pocket.  He 
then  rolled  his  blankets,  together  with  that 
which  he  had  laid  upon  them,  and  secured  them 
in  place  with  heavy  thongs.  Lifting  an  earthen 


SEEALTHA.  187 

jug  that  stood  upon  the  rock  floor  near  the  hox, 
and  holding  the  candle  in  one  hand,  he  placed 
the  mouth  of  the  jug  facing  the  pine  wall  of 
the  room,  and,  walking  slowly,  poured  a  fluid 
from  it.  This  he  continued  in  the  three  apart 
ments,  encircling  each  one.  He  then  placed  the 
short  candle  diagonally  within  an  interstice  of 
the  pine  hoards  where  oil  from  the  jug  had 
dripped  downward.  Throwing  the  candle-stick 
down  he  seized  his  bundle  and  hurried  from 
the  hut. 

He  stood  an  instant  by  the  door  in  an  attitude 
of  listening,  and,  leaving  it  open,  he  walked  rap 
idly  out  of  the  glen  by  the  sand  knoll  and  down 
the  streets  below,  to  the  entrance  of  the  church 
of  the  Mission  Dolores.  The  time  was  one 
o'clock.  Dropping  his  bundle  upon  the  lawn 
fronting  the  church,  he  entered,  made  a  genu 
flection  and  knelt  on  the  floor. 

He  did  not  count  his  rosary — the  time  in 
which  he  knelt  was  not  sufficient;  besides,  his 
hands  were  clasped  toward  the  sanctuary.  If 


183  SEBALTHA. 

he  did  repeat  "  Ave  Marias  "  to  aid  him  in  his 
design,  the  number  might  have  been  twenty. 

As  he  arose,  the  clangor  of  gongs  sounded 
faintly  from  distant  streets.  Nearer,  these  sounds 
mingled  with  the  clatter  of  hoofs  and  wheels. 
Clouds  of  smoke  from  hissing  fire-engines  curled 
against  the  stained-glass  windows  of  the  church. 
The  engines  halted  on  the  street  outside,  and 
Juan  Bermuda  stood  motionless  where  he  had 
knelt. 

The  quick  firemen  unrolled  hose  to  the 
entrance  of  the  glen.  Water  gushed  out  upon 
the  blazing  hut,  and  in  a  moment  darkness 
filled  the  glen.  Firemen  gathered  about  the 
coffin,  and  by  the  dim  light  of  a  lantern  they 
carefully  lifted  the  charred  lid  away.  The  ser 
pent  that  had  hung  in  the  apex  of  the  second 
apartment  now  lay  along  the  bed  of  the  coffin, 
uncoiled. 

"A  witch  lived  here,"  said  a  man  who  peered 
over  the  wall  of  the  glen,  and  who  lived  in  a 
house  upon  the  elevation  above  it.  He  had 
been  awakened  by  the  crackling  flames.  The 


SEBALTHA.  189 

group  of  firemen  looked  upward,  but  saw  noth 
ing  in  the  darkness;  then  each  looked  at  the 
others.  Separating,  they  hastily  put  their  appa 
ratus  in  order  and  went  away. 

Juan  Bermuda  still  stood  where  he  had  knelt. 

In  the  gray  light  of  the  dawning  day,  he 
looked  out  at  the  door  and  saw  that  his  bundle 
was  gone.  He  went  upon  the  deserted  streets, 
and  after  a  careful  survey  of  the  smooth  lawns 
that  spread  about  the  Mission  Dolores,  he  walked 
hastily  toward  the  center  of  the  city.  A  half 
hour  later  he  rapped  gently  upon  the  rear  door 
of  the  house  on  Pine  street. 

Lethe  St.  Pier  admitted  him. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

^I^^N  Investigator  reporter,  evidently  a  novice, 
Spll  interviewed  the  firemen  after  their 
return  from  the  glen,  and  wrote  a  lurid  column 
of  flashing  flames,  of  ghosts,  sepulchers,  ser 
pents  and  a  disembodied  witch.  He  made  men 
tion  of  a  bundle  found  near  the  Mission  Dolores 
and  brought  to  the  engine  house.  The  young 
reporter  did  not  unroll  the  bundle. 

As  Nat  Rapps  sat  at  the  breakfast  table  the 
following  morning,  the  heading  of  the  column, 
announcing  unusual  and  mysterious  happen 
ings,  drew  his  attention.  A  faint  smile  over 
spread  his  face  as  he  glanced  down  the  column, 
but  it  disappeared  when  he  read  the  concluding 
paragraph.  On  his  way  down  town  he  passed 
the  engine  house.  He  did  not  enter  it,  but  went 
directly  to  the  Central  Police  Station,  where  he 
made  inquiries  regarding  a  bundle  found  by 
the  firemen  on  the  previous  night.  An  officer 

(190) 


SEEALTHA.  191 

brought  it  out,  and,  at  the  request  of  Nat  Rapps, 
unrolled  it. 

Two  coarse  blankets  held  a  sack  coat;  a  pair  of 
boots,  very  high-heeled;  a  long,  loosely-knitted 
scarf  of  mingled  colors  and  stained  at  regular 
intervals,  and  a  soiled  Mexican  hat  with  a  coni 
cal  crown.  * 

"Nothing  remarkable;  a  wandering  Greaser's 
outfit,"  said  the  officer,  laconically,  and  he 
turned  to  other  duties. 

"Very  remarkable,"  soliloquized  Nat  Rapps, 
who  had  found  a  lariat  in  a  broad  inside  pocket 
of  the  coat.  The  lariat  was  very  long — nearly 
fifty  feet — closely  plaited  and  of  black  horse 
hair.  The  portion  to  which  he  gave  most  atten 
tion  formed  a  noose,  the  loop  being  of  uncom 
mon  thickness  and  sliding  freely  along  the 
lariat  until  an  obstruction  was  reached  that 
held  the  noose  to  a  diameter  of  five  inches. 
Other  obstructions,  like  the  first  one,  were 
ranged  below  it,  and,  equally  spaced,  extended 
over  six  inches  of  the  length  within  the  noose. 
These  obstructions  were  of  black  horse-hair, 


192  SEBALTHA. 

deftly  woven  through  the  lariat,  and  gradually 
increasing  in  thickness  downward,  each  one 
ended  abruptly,  the  whole  forming  a  series  of 
cones  with  their  apexes  pointing  toward  the 
coils  above.  With  little  effort  he  pushed  the 
loop  along  the  first  cone  and  over  its  base;  but 
could  not  force  it  back,  although  he  tried  with 
all  his  strength.  The  cone  spread  under  a 
reverse  pressure  and  formed  a  perfect  obstruc 
tion  to  the  passage  of  the  loop. 

Nat  Rapps  meditated  upon  the  possible  inten 
tion  of  the  instrument. 

"  Now  a  neck  might  be  held  within  the  noose 
to  a  throttling,  yet  not  to  death.  Inextricable. 
No  hand  could  break  the  noose  or  slip  the  loop 
beyond  the  dilated  cone.  The  man  could  see 
and  hear,  could  feel  and  know,  yet  he  could  not 
cry  aloud.  He  would  fall  upon  the  ground  and 
struggle.  Memory  would  taunt  him,  and  fear 
would  paint  an  Inferno  about  him.  ...  A 
foot  against  his  breast;  another  cone  above  the 
loop.  Now  a  suffocation,  yet  not  of  death.  He 
could  not  hear,  but  he  could  see,  and  breathe 


SERALTHA.  193 

slowly;  he  could  feel  and  know.  Seconds  would 
become  decades,  and  minutes  ages.  Memory 
would  leave  him,  and  all  the  pains  that  fear  had 
foretold  would  now  burn  upon  his  brain.  .  .  . 
A  foot  upon  his  neck ;  slowly  the  lower  cone 
draws  through  the  loop,  and  a  knife  blade 
flashes.  With  naught  but  noose  and  loop  and 
cone  upon  his  neck  he  will  die.  Let  him  die 
alone." 

Having  mused  about  these  possibilities,  Nat 
Rapps  laid  the  lariat  aside  and  gave  his  at 
tention  to  other  articles.  The  coat  had  been 
much  worn,  but  the  exposed  parts  were  not 
faded.  "Worn  only  by  night,"  was  his  thought, 
as  he  examined  the  outside  pockets.  One  was 
empty.  From  the  other  he  drew  a  narrow 
leathern  sheath,  and  from  that  a  steel  table 
knife,  the  blade  having  been  ground  down  to 
half  its  length  and  width.  Its  edge  was  whetted 
to  the  sharpness  of  a  razor.  Searching  no  fur 
ther,  he  loosely  coiled  the  lariat  and  slipped  it, 
together  with  the  knife,  into  the  broad  inside 

7 


194  SEBALTHA. 

pocket  where  he  had  found  it.  Tying  the  bun 
dle  securely,  he  gave  it  to  an  officer  who  tossed 
it  into  the  store-room. 

Nat  Rapps  returned  to  the  street  and  walked 
slowly  toward  the  office  of  the  Investigatory 
thinking  of  the  bundle.  From  his  thoughts  a 
painter  might  have  drawn  the  scene  that  revenge 
had  stamped  upon  the  brain  of  Juan  Bermuda. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

*HE  essence  of  the  thought  which  had 
fixed  a  smile  on  the  face  of  Chalmer 
Grose  when  Seraltha's  head  rested  in  sleep 
upon  the  pillow  near  to  his,  might  have  entered 
her  brain,  and,  lurking  inert  throughout  the 
night,  filled  it  with  unpleasant  fumes  upon  her 
awakening  in  the  morning.  The  flush  of  renewed 
vigor  that  suffused  her  face  upon  returning  con 
sciousness,  sank  into  pallor  when  her  sight  fell 
upon  the  centaurs  pursuing  the  frightened  maid 
ens  in  the  fresco. 

She  turned  her  eyes  from  these  toward  the 
painting,  as  if  to  find  confirmation  of  her  debase 
ment.  In  the  clear  light  the  black  robe  of  Night 
seemingly  hung  out  from  the  canvas,  like  a  veil 
to  Immodesty,  the  figure  behind  it  displaying 
its  outlines  through  the  meshes. 

The  measured  breathing  of  Chalmer  Grose, 
by  whose  side  she  had  rested  from  her  vigils, 

(195) 


196  SEBALTHA. 

told  her  that  he  was  asleep.  Blood  suffused  her 
face  with  shame.  The  centaurs,  the  maidens, 
and  the  symbol  of  Night  became  reproachful 
witnesses.  She  pressed  her  hands  over  her  eyes. 
Scenes  swept  through  her  mind  in  discomfort 
ing  array,  and  they  bore  a  semblance  to  the 
thoughts  which  had  set  the  smile  upon  the  face 
of  Chalmer  Grose  when  she  reclined  beside 
him,  stroking  to  soothe  his  simulated  pain:  "The 
surgeon,  sitting  by  the  bedside  at  midnight  with 
contemptuous  smile;  the  attendant,  diligent  in 
his  morning  service,  yet  meanwhile  looking 
askance  suggestively;  a  whispering  group  in  the 
office  below,  indulging  in  jest  or  loud  guffaw;  a 
brilliant  company  at  Monterey,  pointing  scornful 
fingers;  a  friend  approaching  her  on  the  street, 
who  turns  before  they  meet,  and,  with  quicken 
ing  footsteps,  enters  an  unaccustomed  shop;  an 
ardent  admirer  of  '  Mission '  days  stalking  by 
her,  disdainful;  herself  in  vain  search  of  neigh 
bor  and  employment." 

Sobs  shaking  her  body,  bore  the  anguish  of  a 
violated  soul.     The  clock  in  the  dome  of  the 


SERALTHA.  197 

City  Hall  began  to  strike.  She  sat  suddenly 
upright,  and,  with  face  now  white,  counted  the 
strokes:  "  One — two — three — four — five — six — 
seven — eight — nine — ten — eleven!  "  Thirteen 
hours  she  had  lain  unconscious  in  the  guise  of 
frailty ! 

Still  sitting,  she  turned  so  that  she  might 
look  upon  the  place  where  she  had  slept.  As  if 
aroused  to  semi-consciousness  by  her  count 
ing,  the  sleeping  man,  moving  his  uninjured 
arm,  passed  his  hand  along  the  place  where  she 
had  been  and  rested  it  upon  her  pillow.  He  fell 
again  into  a  deep  sleep,  and  a  faint  smile  flitted 
over  his  face. 

The  blood  returned  to  her  cheeks,  but  resent 
ment  was  now  apparent  in  the  deepening  violet 
of  her  eyes,  in  the  faint  wrinkles  that  sprang 
from  her  disordered  hair  downward  over  her 
forehead  and  in  her  clenching  hands.  Her  face 
and  the  movements  of  her  form  showed  some 
thing  from  within  her  that  had  never  before 
appeared. 

She  moved  from   the   bed.     Her  resentment 


198  SERALTHA. 

strengthened  when  she  stood  beside  it  and 
looked  upon  the  sleeping  man;  not  upon  the 
face,  nor  upon  the  broken  arm  resting  in  splints 
upon  the  counterpane,  but  upon  the  uninjured 
hand  that  rested  against  her  pillow.  While  she 
looked,  the  heavy  coils  of  her  brown  hair 
escaped,  and,  falling  over  her  shoulders  and 
about  her  waist,  spread  their  lustre  in  a  mantle 
upon  her  gown.  As  her  hair  fell,  a  broad  pier- 
glass  against  the  opposite  wall  flashed  a  reflec 
tion  that  borrowed  a  golden  sheen  from  the 
sunlight  sifting  through  the  windows,  and  drew 
her  sight  toward  it.  She  saw  a  maiden  with 
uncoiled  hair  in  an  attitude  and  place  appro 
priate  to  a  wife. 

She  left  the  room  hastily  and  went  toward 
her  chamber.  At  an  angle  of  the  corridors  she 
met  the  attendant,  who  halted. 

"  Go  to  him  carefully,"  she  said,  "  do  not 
awaken  him." 

Quickly  passing  to  her  chamber,  Seraltha 
made  hurried  preparations  for  a  journey,  and 
was  then  driven,  together  with  her  steamer 


SEKALTHA.  199 

trunk,  to  the  railway  station,  where  she  entered  a 
sleeping-car  of  the  noon  train  for  San  Francisco. 

At  one  o'clock  Chalmer  Grose  awoke.  In 
the  meantime  Seraltha's  departure  had  become 
known  to  the  attendant,  who  immediately  in 
formed  him  of  it.  The  smile  that  had  covered 
his  face  when  he  awoke  gave  place  to  a  cloud  of 
anger.  He  turned  his  head  and  looked  upon 
the  place  where  she  had  slept.  Her  fan  lay 
half-opened  near  her  pillow.  He  seized  it  and 
crushed  it  to  fragments. 

To  Seraltha  the  train  seemed  a  swift  and  sure 
deliverer  bearing  her  homeward,  and  the  soft 
upholstery  of  the  sleeping-car  seemed  to  move 
in  caressing  embrace  as  she  reclined  upon  it 
and  saw  the  out-lying  streets  of  the  mountain 
city  passing  swiftly  behind  her.  Happiness, 
expectancy  and  the  thankfulness  of  deliverance 
kept  with  her  as  the  train  swept  on  its  down 
ward  course  through  a  long  mountain  gorge 
beautiful  with  trees  and  waterfalls,  and  emerged 
upon  a  rocky  plain  below.  She  soon  wearied  of 


200  SEBALTHA. 

the  uninviting  scenery  of  the  plain  and  gave 
notice  to  the  people  who  journeyed  with  her. 

In  the  section  behind  her  a  middle-aged 
gentleman  of  self-possession  met  her  glance 
with  a  respectful  air  as  she  turned  and  looked 
in  his  direction.  Across  the  aisle  a  girl  of  ten 
years,  who  in  the  full  glee  of  unaccustomed 
travel,  had  romped  from  seat  to  seat  in  the 
vicinity  of  her  sedate  mother,  became  quiet 
when  Seraltha  gave  her  attention  and  gazed  at 
her  with  admiration.  A  well-dressed  elderly 
woman  in  the  section  fronting  her,  who  sat  in 
seeming  melancholy,  moved  in  cheerful  response 
when  Seraltha  addressed  her.  A  newly-married 
couple  seated  beyond  were  aiding  to  enliven 
the  car  by  their  decorous  amiabilities.  The 
girl  of  ten  became  merry,  and  her  sedate  mother 
animated.  The  middle-aged  gentleman  be 
came  gallant  and  the  elderly  woman  con 
fidential. 

A  greater  share  of  this  cheer  was  granted  to 
Seraltha.  In  the  companionship  of  those  about 


SEBALTHA.  201 

her  she  forgot  her  experience  at  the  hotel,  until 
the  train  halted  at  an  eating-house  at  twilight. 
When  she  stepped  to  the  landing,  upon  her  way 
to  the  dining-room,  a  stout  man  who  came  from 
a  forward  car,  walked  toward  her  and  kept  by 
her  side  to  the  entrance  of  the  station.  As  they 
walked  she  noticed  that  he  constantly  regarded 
her.  At  the  dining-table  she  saw  that  from  his 
seat,  which  he  had  taken  nearly  opposite  her 
position,  he  endeavored  by  smiles  to  attract  her 
notice.  He  was  well-dressed,  and  his  face  was 
florid.  His  table  manners  were  those  of  a 
gentleman. 

While  he  ate  he  conversed  with  those  beside 
him.  He  spoke  of  recent  happenings  at  the 
mountain  city,  and  of  the  mines  and  mountains 
thereabout;  praising  the  hotel  fare,  and  signifi 
cantly  added  that  he  was  returning  to  San 
Francisco,  where  he  hoped  to  be  recognized  by 
a  sympathetic  person  whom  he  had  seen  during 
his  absence,  and  who  resided  in  that  city. 

As  he  conversed  Seraltha  felt  her  head  droop 
ing  and  that  her  food  was  becoming  tasteless, 


202  SEBALTHA. 

although  she  had  taken  none  since  the  previous 
evening.  She  knew  that  he  was  speaking  to 
her.  Her  indignation  was  aroused.  She  raised 
her  head  and  looked  across  the  table,  full  into 
his  face. 

"By  what  right  do  you  insult  me?  "  her  eyes 
asked,  and  then  their  glance  fell  to  the  table. 

He  had  leered  suggestively  as  his  glance 
met  hers.  He  was  one  of  those  who  had 
raised  her  from  the  floor  as  the  black  horse 
entered  the  hotel  stable  with  his  message  in 
blood. 

He  knew  of  her  acts.  She  saw  the  world's 
opinion  expressed  in  the  eyes  of  one  man.  She 
finished  her  meal  and  shrank  away  to  her  seat  in 
the  sleeper.  When  the  train  drew  away  from 
the  station,  the  merry  little  girl  of  the  afternoon 
stood  in  the  aisle  beside  Seraltha's  seat,  with 
her  face  full  of  sympathy;  her  mother  peered 
over  her  shoulder  from  the  opposite  seat;  the 
elderly  woman  looked  wonderingly  over  the 
back  of  her  section;  the  middle-aged  gentleman 
was  silently  indignant,  and  the  newly -married 


SERALTHA.  203 

man  whispered  to  his  bride.    Seraltha  wa's  lying 
on  her  seat,  weeping  convulsively. 

The  porter  entered  and  disturbed  the  scene. 
He  stood  beside  Seraltha  and  spoke  her  name. 
He  handed  her  an  unenveloped  note.  As  she 
read  she  slowly  arose  from  her  seat,  and,  stand 
ing  upright  in  her  section,  she  tore  the  missive 
into  narrow  strips.  Breaking  these,  she  laid 
them  in  his  hand.  The  porter  knew  the  sig 
nificance  of  this  action,  and  returned  the  torn 
note  to  the  party  who  had  written  it.  He  who 
had  smiled  upon  her  before,  now  uttered  indig 
nities,  among  which  her  chastity  was  denied, 
and  in  his  anger  he  loudly  gave  his  interpreta 
tion  of  her  movements  in  the  mountain  city. 

When  the  porter  returned  to  his  car,  Seral 
tha  asked  that  her  berth  should  be  prepared. 
As  she  opened  the  curtains  to  retire  behind 
them,  the  child  in  the  opposite  section  bade  her 
"good-night."  Tears  again  came  to  her  eyes 
and  suffused  her  cheeks  wrhen  she  responded. 
She  drew  the  curtains  and  threw  herself  upon 
the  berth.  Neither  the  tearing  of  the  note, 


204  SEKAT.THA. 

nor  the  darkness  within  the  curtains,  sufficed  to 
obliterate  from  her  sight  the  words  written  upon 
it.  They  flamed  in  a  dark  abyss,  that  opened 
to  her  eyes  as  she  sank  her  face  deep  into  the 
pillow: 

"  SERALTHA  AMES — 

"  My  silence  can  be  secured.     What  is 
}xmr  address  in  the  city  ? 

"  A  GUEST  AT  MONTEREY." 

The  envenomed  lines  seemed  a  flaming  rattle 
snake,  her  name  its  head,  and  the  pseudonym 
its  rattle.  The  abyss  became  a  gloomy  plain, 
bringing  the  serpent  nearer.  She  sprang  away 
from  it,  and,  kneeling  upon  her  couch,  she  saw 
it  in  the  darkness  about  her  pillow,  a  malefi 
cent  hallucination.  She  threw  the  curtains  aside 
for  escape,  and  the  light  from  without  effaced  it. 

Fevered  and  trembling,  she  again  rested  her 
head  upon  the  pillow,  and,  as  the  night  wore 
away,  her  thoughts  dwelt  upon  the  humiliation. 
In  the  place  of  welcome,  when  she  would  again 
return  to  "  The  Mission,"  she  now  saw  a  leer. 
It  met  her  everywhere — from  windows,  from 


6ERALTHA.  205 

half-closed  doors,  on  the  streets,  and  in  the 
shops.  It  went  with  her  to  the  church,  and 
pierced  her  with  a  thousand  thrusts.  Her  dire 
imaginings  dwelt  upon  evil.  A  classmate  came 
before  her  who  had  strayed  from  propriety; 
Seraltha  saw  her  stretched  upon  a  marble  slab^ 
water  dripping  from  her  hair.  Another  came 
who  had  walked  wherever  her  fancy  led.  She 
had  fled  before  the  calumny  of  neighbor  and 
kin  and  sought  employment.  Calumny  pur 
sued  and  took  the  wages  from  her  hand.  She 
had  gone  from  her  home  in  "The  Mission" 
northward  through  the  city,  abiding  awhile  in 
seclusion.  Her  master  had  cherished  her  for  a 
season,  and  then  encouraged  her  to  drink.  He 
knew  that  when  a  woman  is  falling,  wine  will 
plunge  her  downward  as  a  clod  descends.  She 
became  shameless,  and  he  drove  her  from  him. 
She  followed  the  downward  path  to  the  com 
panionship  of  those  who  revel  among  the  ter 
races  of  the  "Barbary  Coast."*  Seraltha  had 

*  A  local  name  given  to  an  immoral  section  of  San  Francisco,  lying 
along  the  northern  wharves,  and  including  the  slopes  of  adjacent  hills 
•where  time-worn  wooden  houses  rise  to  the  view  in  apparent  terraces. 


206  SERALTHA. 

been  told  of  her  after  she  had  fallen,  and  once 
used  her  best  efforts  to  reform  her,  but 
failed.  The  expanse  behind  her  had  uplifted, 
and  the  path  was  vertical.  Fancy  showed  her 
now,  standing  with  unlaced  shoe  and  tattered 
gown,  her  dulled  eyes  leering  across  the  waters 
of  the  bay  toward  the  incoming  train. 

The  loitering  morning  came.  The  rising  sun 
brought  a  land  breeze  that  pushed  the  ocean 
fogs  from  the  Oakland  shore,  rolled  them  over  the 
bay  and  banked  them  in  a  mask  of  pearl  against 
the  city  beyond.  A  steamer  followed,  bearing 
those  who  had  arrived  by  the  mountain  train. 
As  it  lay  against  the  dock  Seraltha  was  the  first 
to  go  on  board,  hastening  as  if  to  escape  detec 
tion.  Passing  far  forward,  she  bent  over  the 
rail  and  drew  deep  breaths  from  the  cooling  air. 
Others  came  about  her  and  observed  her  dis 
ordered  hair  and  crumpled  raiment.  As  the 
steamer  drew  away  from  the  landing,  a  watch 
man  approached  and  warned  her  of  her  danger. 
When  she  turned,  he  saw  a  fevered  flush  upon 
her  cheeks.  He  led  her  to  a  seat  near  by  and 


SERALTHA.  207 

stood  beside  her.  The  place  where  she  had 
been  was  a  vantage-ground  for  suicide. 

"While  she  sat  she  looked  out  upon  the  bay. 
A  steamer,  in  counter  passage,  plunged  out  from 
the  bank  of  fog  along  the  further  shore,  and 
trailed  broad  bands  of  glistening  foam  among 
the  ships  at  anchor  in  the  stream.  Far  up  the 
bay  smaller  craft  busied  the  waters  with  sail  or 
panting  steam.  Oceanward,  swift  tugs  and 
careful  steamers  passed  in  and  out  the  Golden 
Gate,  through  fleets  of  fishing  tartans  whose 
lateen  sails  dipped  the  leeward  water  and  rose 
in  crescent  white  against  a  pyramid  of  fog. 

As  the  steamer  neared  its  dock  the  land  breeze 
fell,  and  gusts  of  sea  wind  swept  through  the 
Heads.  Chasing  up  the  bay,  they  pierced  a 
broad  rift  in  the  bank  of  fog  that  lay  against  the 
city.  Seraltha  hid  her  face  wrhen  her  eyes  fell 
upon  the  moss-covered  roofs  uprising  in  terraced 
outline  along  the  "Barbary  Coast." 

The  steamer  touched  its  dock.  The  passen 
gers  pressed  forward,  and,  hastening  to  the 
landing,  streamed  away  to  waiting  street  cars 


208  SERALTHA. 

and  carriages,  except  Seraltha,  who  still  re 
mained  upon  the  forward  deck  slowly  walking 
to  and  fro.  The  watchman,  now  fully  aware 
that  she  required  assistance,  asked  her  where 
she  wished  to  go. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  she  answered  drearily. 

He  escorted  her  to  the  landing,  which  they 
had  scarcely  reached  when  Lethe  St.  Pier  came 
toward  them  from  a  waiting  carriage.  When 
they  met,  Lethe  exclaimed: 

" Here's  mah  Honey!  Lah,  lah!  Mah  eyes  see 
her  comin'  toh  me.  Chile,  chile !  Speak  toh  me. 
Yoh's  full  ob  fever!  Has  you  been  'bused? 
Chile!  Look  on  me!  Come  'long  ah  me.  Chile, 
chile  I  Doan  yoh  see  me  ?  Lethe  St.  Pier !  Come ! 
Nobuddy  'buse  yoh  in  Lethe  St.  Pier's  house." 

As  she  spoke  the  latter  words  her  earnest  face 
seemed  to  Seraltha  an  assurance  of  deliverance. 
The  watchman  stood  amazed  as  she  closely 
encircled  Lethe's  shoulders  with  her  arms  and 
repeatedly  kissed  her  dusky  face. 

They  entered  the  carriage,  which  was  driven 
to  the  house  on  Pine  street. 


SEBALTHA.  209 

Seraltha  went  to  her  bed  in  the  gorgeously- 
furnished  chamber,  where  she  passed  a  sleepless 
day.  In  the  evening,  Lethe  St.  Pier  called  a 
physician,  for  Seraltha  was  then  kneeling  upon 
the  bed,  clutching  her  hair  and  looking  wildly 
about  her  in  apparent  delirium. 

When  the  physician  arrived,  Seraltha  still 
knelt,  but  her  hands  were  clenched  tightly  by 
her  side,  and  her  sight  was  fixed  upon  her 
pillow.  As  he  approached  the  bedside  she 
counted  slowly: 

' '  One — two —  three — four  — five — six  — seven 
— eight — nine — ten — eleven!  " 

"  It  is  not  in  her  blood,  but  in  her  brain," 
said  the  physician.  He  was  an  expert  in  men 
tal  disorders. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

the  anger  of  Chalmer  Grose  had 
expended  its  force  in  the  breaking  of 
Serai  tha's  fan,  he  sent  the  following  telegram: 

"  HAMILTON  TUCKEE, 

San  Francisco : 

"  S.  left  angry,  noon  train.  Arrive  there  7, 
morning.  Have  St.  P.  meet.  Get  a  carriage. 
Drive  yourself.  Take  to  Pine  street.  Keep  S. 
there.  Hold  you  responsible.  Don't  fail." 

Although  the  message  was  unsigned,  Hamil 
ton  Tucker  knew  its  source  and  meaning.  He 
was  also  aware  of  the  importance  of  the  con 
cluding  sentences.  A  crisis  in  the  affairs  of  his 

superior  had  arrived,  demanding  action.  "  Take ! 
Keep!    Don't  fail!" 

Force  could  not  be  considered.  Persuasion 
promised  a  failure.  If  she  had  fled  before  Csssar, 
she  would  evade  his  retainer.  Threats  might 
defeat  his  purpose.  Calumny,  having  already 
touched  her,  might  prove  unavailing. 

(210) 


SEBALTHA.  211 

Hamilton  Tucker  had  reached  his  limit.  He 
studied  the  dispatch  and  solved  the  problem. 
He  wrote  something  -upon  the  message  and  went 
to  the  house  on  Pine  street.  He  knew  of 
Lethe's  illiteracy,  and  when  he  read  the  mes 
sage  to  her  it  declared: 

"LETHE  ST.  PIER: 

"  Seraltha  will  come  to-morrow,  7  in  the 
morning.  Meet  her  at  the  ferry  with  a  carriage. 
Take  her  to  the  Pine  street  house.  Keep  her 
there.  Don't  fail.  I  hold  you  responsible. 

"CHALMER  GROSE." 

Hamilton  Tucker  employed  a  man  to  drive 
the  carriage  from  the  ferry  to  the  house  on  Pine 
street,  and  took  a  retired  position,  where  he 
might  see,  unobserved,  the  efforts  of  Lethe  St. 
Pier  to  meet  the  demands  of  Chalmer  Grose. 
When  Seraltha  met  Lethe,  he  was  as  much 
amazed  as  had  been  the  watchman,  when  he  saw 
a  rapturous  meeting  and  an  amiable  companion 
ship  on  the  way  to  the  carriage. 

This  occurred  in  the  morning  of  the  day  in 
which  he  visited  the  grain  ranch.  On  the  even- 


212  SERALTHA. 

ing  after  his  return  he  called  at  the  house  on 
Pine  street,  and  gave  evidence  of  mental  relief, 
when  Lethe  St.  Pier  met  him  at  the  door  with 
this  information: 

"  Seraltha  is  afflicted  with  intermissive  delir 
ium,  which  will  require  many  weeks  of  seclu 
sion  and  perfect  rest  to  overcome.  That  is  what 
the  doctor  says/'  she  added. 

"  And  she  can't  get  up  and  go  out  till  she  gets 
well,"  said  Hamilton  Tucker. 

"  An'  nobuddy  gwine  toh  take  her  out  long's 
Lethe  St.  Pier  is  livin'.  She's  been  'bused — 
'bused  long  anuff." 

Hamilton  Tucker  took  one  step  backward  as 
the  tall  form  in  the  doorway  seemed  to  expand. 

"  It's  all  right,"  he  responded,  "  I  know  she 
will  be  safe  with  you." 

Nevertheless,  after  a  correspondence  between 
himself  and  Chalmer  Grose,  in  which  this  clause 
appeared  in  one  of  his  letters — "  Lethe  St.  Pier 
is  a  friend  of  the  girl" — a  man  of  stealthy  man 
ner  rented  a  room  in  the  house  opposite  to  that 
in  which  Seraltha  had  refuge,  and  watched 


SERALTHA.  213 

through  the  window  shutters  during  the  day. 
Another,  like  him,  walked  about  the  streets, 
on  the  steep  driveway  and  over  the  rear  grounds, 
in  the  hours  of  darkness.  A  man  of  stooping 
shoulders,  who  wore  a  slouch  hat,  held  an  inter= 
view  with  each  one  when  he  began  his  under 
taking. 

After  the  third  night,  the  man  who  walked 
about  did  not  go  upon  the  grounds,  and  ap 
proached  no  nearer  to  the  house  than  the 
opposite  sidewalk. 

"  On  this  night,"  he  said  to  a  man  who  inter 
viewed  him,  "and  about  3  o'clock,  after  resting 
upon  the  low  stairway  of  the  rear  porch,  I  went 
along  the  causeway  toward  the  barn.  I  was  half 
way  over,  at  the  point  where  the  causeway  is 
highest  above  the  ground,  when  I  heard  a  rust 
ling  sound,  and  immediately  after  was  leashed 
by  a  rope  holding  my  arms  tightly  to  my  body. 
Before  I  could  make  an  outcry,  I  was  thrown 
violently  upon  the  causeway.  I  was  then  drawn 
over  the  verge,  from  which  I  fell  a  distance  of 
eight  feet  to  the  ground  below.  I  then  became 


214  SEEALTHA. 

unconscious.  Upon  recovery,  I  was  aware  that 
my  arms  were  freed,  and  as  I  sat  upright  my 
hand  grasped  the  rope,  which  I  brought  away 
with  me  as  evidence  of  my  adventure." 

He  showed  the  rope  to  the  man  who  listened 
to  his  story.  It  was  new  and  had  been  kneaded 
to  pliability.  It  was  nearly  four  feet  in  length, 
and  held  a  spliced  loop  on  one  end.  On  the 
other  end  two  of  its  three  strands  had  been  sev 
ered  by  a  sharp  knife.  The  third  strand  was 
broken,  as  if  by  great  violence.  The  man  care 
fully  examined  the  rope,  and  then  said: 

"  You  were  lassoed.  A  Mexican  did  it.  He 
did  not  come  near  you.  He  was  on  the  ground 
below  you,  and  got  your  shape  against  the  sky. 
He  got  away  with  the  rest  of  the  rope  by  pull 
ing  the  sound  strand  apart,  where  he  had  cut 
the  others." 

The  man  who  made  this  decision  was  Chance 
Neely,  of  the  private  detective  agency. 

The  purpose  of  Chalmer  Grose,  resolved  when 
he  sent  the  letter  of  invitation  to  Seraltha  re 
questing  her  presence  with  himself  and  friends 


SEEALTHA.  215 

on  the  mountain  excursion,  had  been  accom 
plished,  although  not  in  the  way  he  had  in 
tended — the  ruin  of  her  reputation  with  the  aid 
of  scandal. 

A  beautiful  girl  had  forsaken  her  occupation, 
and,  after  flashing  her  presence  before  the  wealth 
of  Monterey,  had  gone  upon  a  journey  of  pleas 
ure.  Conducting  herself  then  with  impropriety, 
she  had  returned  and  taken  shelter  in  a  house 
of  unsavory  history. 

This  was  the  warp  that  her  aspirations  had 
thrown  about  her,  and  scandal  plied  the  woof 
to  a  robe  of  deepest  dye.  No  need  for  her 
mother  to  tell  her,  when  she  visited  her,  that 
her  name  was  a  bye-word  on  the  streets  of  "  The 
Mission,"  and  a  reproach  in  the  homes  which 
once  she  had  cheered.  She  heard  the  whisper 
ings  in  her  chamber  by  night  and  by  day,  and 
heard  the  rustle  of  silk,  swept  aside  by  scornful 
hands.  In  the  reveries  of  convalescence  she  had 
found  no  wish  to  meet  those  with  whom  she 
had  associated,  or  to  see  the  outside  world.  As 
health  returned,  she  shrank  more  closely  within 


216  SERALTHA. 

her  chamber.  The  man  who  walked  in  dark 
ness  about  the  streets,  and  he  who  watched  by 
day,  had  no  useful  occupation. 

Hope  never  tires  in  device.  If  spurned,  it 
returns  with  other  invention.  It  has  a  design 
for  every  condition  of  life.  It  brought  one 
to  her  as  she  reclined  upon  the  sofa  in  her 
chamber.  She  was  immaculate!  Was  he  so 
enamored  that  he  would  wed  to  possess  her? 

"When  this  expedient  presented  itself,  her  soul 
turned  away  from  it.  Although  scorned,  it  per 
sistently  returned,  always  with  alluring  prom 
ises.  "  It  would  uplift,  perhaps  restore.  In  fru 
ition,  her  pathway  would  be  lighted.  He  would 
admire  her  beauty;  he  would  respect  her  virtue; 
he  would  be  gratified  for  her  devotion.  Perhaps 
he  would  love  her."  "  Love! "  She  hysterically 
repeated  the  word  many  times,  and  began  the 
counting :  "  One — two — three — four — five — six 
— seven — eight — nine — ten — eleven!"  As  she 
counted  she  arose  and  knelt  upon  the  sofa. 
Grasping  her  hair,  she  looked  steadily  toward 
the  pillow. 


SEEALTHA.  217 

This  relapse  of  her  affliction  came  in  the 
fourth  week  from  that  of  her  arrival  from  the 
mountain  city,  and,  being  less  severe  than  the 
first  attack,  it  was  restrained  within  ten  days. 
In  the  meantime,  Chalmer  Grose  had  so  far 
recovered  from  his  injuries  that  he  could  be 
removed  to  his  rooms  in  the  Hotel  Havencourt. 
After  his  arrival  there,  being  still  an  invalid 
and  unable  to  go  abroad,  he  summoned  Lethe 
St.  Pier  to  his  apartments.  His  messenger  was 
Hamilton  Tucker,  who,  on  the  evening  preced 
ing  the  day  of  Lethe's  ordered  attendance  upon 
her  employer  rang  the  door-bell  of  the  house 
on  Pine  street  with  much  misgiving;  but  its 
scope  did  not  reach  to  the  unexpected,  which 
did  happen. 

As  he  stood  by  the  door  in  waiting  he  heard 
movements  within,  and  saw  through  the  stained 
glass  in  the  lintels  that  full  light  was  being 
given  to  the  hall  chandelier,  which  was  sus 
pended  several  yards  beyond  the  entrance.  The 
door  swung  open,  and  remained  stationary  at  a 
right  angle  with  its  frame.  While  it  was  open- 


218  SERALTHA. 

ing  he  stepped  inside  the  hall,  but  halted  as  the 
interior  came  to  his  sight. 

Lethe  St.  Pier  stood  upon  the  lower  one  of 
the  stairs,  her  left  hand  resting  upon  the  newel. 
No  other  person  was  in  view.  She  could  not 
have  opened  the  door.  In  the  instant  that 
brought  this  fact  to  his  mind,  Lethe  recognized 
her  visitor.  Seizing  something  which  stood 
behind  the  newel  she  stepped  to  the  floor  of  the 
hall  and  raised  it  toward  him.  He  saw  far 
down  the  double  barrels  of  a  sportsman's  gun. 

"Don't  come!"  she  said,  as  she  drew  the 
breech  against  her  shoulder;  "and  don't  go! 
don't  move! — yes,  you  may  do  that,"  she  added. 

He  had  leaned  heavily  into  the  angle  of  the 
wall  and  door-casing  as  he  looked  along  the 
barrels  of  the  gun  to  the  hammers,  both  full 
drawn. 

"  And  this  is  not  the  only  one,"  she  continued. 
"  You  can  look  at  the  door." 

He  looked,  and  saw  double  barrels  protruding 
beyond  the  door,  held  by  some  one  who  stood 
behind  it. 


SEBALTHA.  219 

"  That,"  she  said,  "  is  for  the  man  who  has 
been  prowling  'round  my  house  night  times,  if 
he  is  coming  behind  you,  or  anybody  else  com 
ing  with  him.  And  don't  you  speak,  only  to 
what  I  am  going  to  say."  Hamilton  Tucker 
shrank  closer  into  the  angle.  "  You  have  come 
to  ask  Miss  Seraltha  to  go  away  with  you,  and 
if  she  won't  do  that,  you  have  come  to  take  her 
away.  Just  that  same  doings  been  'round  this 
house  before,  but  nobody  can  get  a  carriage  up 
the  back  way  this  time.  I've  done  boarded  up 
the  passage  through  the  barn,  in  and  out,  and 
any  carriage  coming  to  my  house  any  more 
stops  in  the  street,  right  in  front,  and  nobody 
gets  carried  away  from  my  house,  unless  she 
wants  to  go;  and  Miss  Seraltha  don't." 

"  Mrs.  St.  Pier!"  (Hamilton  Tucker  hesitated 
and  struggled  for  speech,  then  continued.)  "  I 
don't  want  Seraltha.  I've — got  no — carriage. 
Nobody's  with  me.  Mr.  Chalmer  Grose  wants — 
you  to  come — to  the  Hotel  Havencourt;  he  wants 
to  see  you  to-morrow  afternoon  at  three  o'clock. 


220  SEKALTHA. 

Put — put  away  the — gun,  please !  There's  no— 
no  use  for  it." 

"  I  suppose,"  responded  Lethe,  stil  holding 
the  gun  in  position,  "  that  you  are  telling  the 
truth.  I  am  going  to  let  you  off,  if  you  will  hold 
up  your  right  hand  and  promise  to  find  the 
man  who  is  prowling  'round  my  house  night 
times,  and  take  him  away  with  you." 

Hamilton  Tucker's  right  hand  went  up,  and 
the  promise  was  ardently  given.  The  gun  still 
remained  in  position. 

"  And  you  tell  Chalmer  Grose  if  he  wants  to 
see  Lethe  St.  Pier,  he  is  welcome  to  come  to  her 
house  any  day-time,  by  the  front  way,  and 
nobody  will  hurt  him.  He  needn't  send  for  the 
shotguns,  and  the  two  rifles,  and  the  three 
revolvers  in  the  cupboards  up  stairs,  for  the 
lease  of  this  house  says :  '  and  everything  that 
is  in  it.1  Now,  you  may  go." 

Hamilton  Tucker  departed.  As  he  reached 
the  sidewalk  at  the  foot  of  the  granite  steps,  he 
looked  upward  and  saw  the  light  slowly  fading 
from  the  stained  glass  of  the  door.  On  a  street 


BEBALTHA.  221 

corner  near  by  he  met  the  man  who  had  walked 
about  in  darkness,  and  conversed  with  him. 
After  they  had  separated,  the  man  went  to  the 
room  of  his  confederate  and  peered  through  the 
shutters  into  the  dim  gaslight  that  threw  misty 
gleams  against  the  castle  of  Lethe  St.  Pier. 

Hamilton  Tucker  called  at  the  rooms  of  his 
employer  early  the  next  morning  and  related 
the  facts  to  him.  He  was  much  astonished, 
after  he  had  imparted  his  information,  to  know 
that  Chalmer  Grose  received  it  without  evidence 
of  anger.  He  was  further  surprised  when,  upon 
the  completion  of  his  story,  he  was  told  to  call 
at  the  private  detective  agency  and  command 
the  withdrawal  of  the  two  spies  from  their 
stations. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

rooms  of  the  suite  occupied  by  Chal- 
mer  Grose  in  the  Hotel  Havencourt 
numbered  six,  being  a  union  of  two  suites  by 
the  cutting  of  a  door  between.  The  first  room 
was  in  an  angle  against  the  principal  and  side 
street,  and  the  others  extended  along  the  side 
street  and  a  main  corridor  of  the  floor  upon 
which  they  were  situated,  to  an  exclusive  corri 
dor,  into  which  the  further  room  opened.  The 
rooms  within  the  angle,  and  that  upon  the  exclu 
sive  corridor,  were  spacious  parlors.  An  obser 
vant  visitor,  passing  through  the  interior  of  the 
rooms  from  the  angle  would  have  noticed,  first, 
a  frescoed  parlor,  gorgeous  with  inharmonious 
colors  on  curtain,  divan,  and  carpet;  second,  a 
chamber  with  greater  discord  in  colors  about  a 
canopied  bed;  third,  a  dressing-room  with  simi 
lar  colors  reflected  in  heavy  pier  glasses;  fourth, 
a  dressing-room  with  harmonious  colors,  draped 

(222) 


SEBALTHA.  223 

easel-mirrors,  and  a  subtle  perfume,  not  of 
flowers;  fifth,  an  adjoining  chamber,  with  the 
added  purity  of  white;  sixth,  a  parlor,  decorated 
and  with  harmonious  tints  on  curtain,  divan 
and  carpet.  Passing  thence  into  the  exclusive 
corridor,  the  visitor  would  have  noticed  the 
absence  of  doors  in  the  wall  of  the  opposite 
room,  and  that  the  suite  of  rooms  through 
which  he  had  passed  were  secluded  from  all 
others  upon  the  floor. 

During  the  two  weeks  following  the  arrival  of 
Chalmer  Grose,  he  rested,  at  first  upon  the 
canopied  bed,  and  afterward  upon  easy  chairs 
and  couches  in  the  gorgeous  parlor.  Later, 
occasional  visitors-  entered  the  rooms.  These 
were  officers  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  Mining 
Association,  who  gave  sympathy  and  congratu 
lations,  and  otherwise  aided  to  break  the  mono 
tony  of  his,  convalescence.  At  the  end  of  the 
third  week  he  had  so  far  recovered  as  to  be 
driven  abroad  in  his  carriage.  After  a  few  days 
he  entered  his  carriage  attended  by  his  valet, 
and  was  driven  to  the  house  on  Pine  street. 


224  SEBALTHA. 

Lethe  St.  Pier  met  him  at  the  door  and 
ushered  him  into  the  reception  room.  As  he 
turned  from  the  hallway  to  enter  this  room  he 
furtively  glanced  into  the  angle  behind  the 
front  door.  When  he  was  seated  he  gave  the 
same  attention  to  possible  places  of  concealment 
about  the  room. 

"  I  called  to  speak  with  Seraltha,"  he  abruptly 
said,  when  Lethe  had  seated  herself  near  him. 

"  Your  man  said  Lethe  St.  Pier  is  who  you 
wanted  to  speak  with."  Her  response  gave 
evidence  of  opposition. 

"Yes — then,  about  a  new  mine.  Spiritual 
affair.  Wanted  to  know  about  what  was  in  it. 
I  will  see  you  some  other  time.  Just  as  well 
when  this  is  taken  off."  He  pointed  with  his 
right  hand  to  the  silken  sling  in  which  his 
injured  arm  lay.  Continuing,  he  said:  "Bad 
injury — side,  too.  Troubles  me  now.  I  shall 
do  no  business  until  I  get  well.  Thought  I 
would,  when  I  sent  for  you." 

Lethe  St.  Pier  was  foiled  and  the  thrusts  that 


SERALTHA.  225 

she  had  intended  were  forefended.  She  sat  a 
moment  in  thought,  and  then  said: 

"Miss  Seraltha  has  been  very  sick — crazy- 
like.  Something  happened  up  there  in  the 
mountains."  She  looked  intently  at  him,  and, 
as  thoughts  of  Seraltha's  version  of  the  happen 
ing  came  to  her  mind,  she  again  showed  opposi 
tion. 

"Yes,  it  was  terrible,"  he  responded.  "Enough 
to  make  anyone  crazy.  Besides,  she  was  awake 
so  long,  caring  for  me.  My  fault;  but  I  was  in 
great  pain.  Gave  no  attention  to  time.  After 
ward  she  slept  too  long.  I  did  not  know  that  it 
was  dangerous  for  her  to  do  so,  until  the  doctor 
told  me  the  next  day.  I  coald  not  bear  to 
awaken  her — she  had  been  so  good  to  me." 

Lethe  was  foiled  again,  and  satyr  was  in 
transformation  to  seraph.  Hesitating  but  an 
instant,  she  arose  from  her  seat,  exclaiming: 

"Dah  lubbly  chile!  She  done  got  mistaken. 
Dah  good  Lawd's  hearin'  me — I'se  thankful! 
I'se  gwine  toh  her  dis  berry  minit.  She'll  say 


226  SERALTHA. 

yes.     I'se    thankful,   en    dah    good    Lord's    a 
knowin'  ob  it!" 

Leaving  the  reception  room  she  ran  up  the 
stairway  to  the  vestibule.  He  heard  her  foot 
steps  along  the  floor  of  the  parlor  above  him, 
and  in  the  room  beyond.  Craftiness  came 
among  the  wiry  muscles  of  his  face. 

After  a  long  delay  Lethe  came  to  him  with 
the  information  that  Seraltha  would  meet  him 
in  the  parlor.  Lethe  returned  to  Seraltha  and 
assisted  to  dress  her  in  the  ashes-of-roses  tea- 
gown,  and  coiled  her  hair  exquisitely.  Long 
seclusion  within  her  room  had  effaced  the  in 
herited  firmness  of  labor  from  the  outlines  of 
her  form,  and  in  its  place  had  bestowed  the 
lithe  and  delicate  grace  of  luxury  and  ease. 

The  delirium  from  which  she  had  suffered 
left  a  slight  impress  upon  her,  manifested  by  an 
unrest  and  by  abrupt  and  emotional  speech. 
Her  eyes  sometimes  deepened  in  color,  and 
moved  their  sight  rapidly  over  the  person  with 
whom  she  might  be  in  conversation.  She  would 
draw  deep  inspirations  when  thus  engaged. 


SERALTHA.  227 

These  manifestations  had  not  been  continu 
ous,  and  seemed  to  move  upon  her  as  tides 
move,  not  diurnally,  but  with  the  lunations. 
She  was  upon  the  ebb  of  this  tide — yet  not  at 
its  lowest — when  Chalmer  Grose  entered  the 
parlor  to  converse  with  her.  She  sat  upon  an 
armless  upholstered  chair  beyond  the  broad 
front  windows  of  the  parlor  furthest  from  the 
vestibule. 

As  Ghalmer  Grose  entered  he  walked  with 
confidence  to  meet  an  inexperienced  girl;  but 
as  he  passed  under  the  embossed  arch  connect 
ing  the  parlors,  a  woman  calmly  waved  her  fan 
toward  a  sofa  placed  in  a  position  where  the 
light  from  the  window  fell  full  upon  his  face. 
As  he  sat,  he  at  first  looked  away  from  her 
through  the  window,  toward  the  shutters  where 
the  spy  had  watched.  When  he  turned  his 
face  toward  her,  he  saw  the  blue  within  her 
eyes  deepening  to  violet  amidst  the  shifting 
flashes  that  darted  upon  him  from  head  to  foot; 
and  fancy  showed  him  the  three  revolvers 
glistening  in  the  chiffonier  of  his  abandoned 


228  SERALTHA. 

chamber,  which  she  now  occupied.  Impelled 
by  this,  he  arose;  but  her  eyes  now  calmly  met 
his. 

"I  meant  the  best  toward  you,"  he  said, 
hastily,  and  again  took  his  seat.  "There  was 
no  harm  in  your  resting  by  my  side.  You 
were  good  to  me;  and  I  loved  you.  I  had 
resolved  to  wed  you — if  you  would — when  I 
was  fully  well.  It  was  upon  the  tongue  of  every 
body  in  the  mountain  city  that  you  were  to  be 
my  wife,  and" —  He  hesitated.  She  looked 
intently  at  him,  but,  as  she  made  no  response, 
he  continued:  "It  was  a  pleasant  situation,  as 
fair  as  could  be  in  the  midst  of  calamity.  I 
thought  of  it  in  the  intervals  of  my  suffering, 
as  you  came  about  me  in  gentle  care.  I  felt  a 
cheer  that  soothed  the  pain  when  at  its  greatest 
violence." 

He  spoke  the  latter  sentence  looking  out  at 
the  window;  but  hearing  the  sound  of  a  deep 
inspiration,  he  turned  his  face  toward  her. 
Another  followed,  and  then  a  third.  He  mis 
took  their  meaning,  and  resumed  his  speech 


SEKALTHA.  229 

with  ardor.  "  Your  touch  and  your  near  pres 
ence  were  anodynes  to  my  anguish,  and  were 
healing  while  I  was  yet  bleeding." 

Approaching  her,  he  seized  her  hand  and 
raised  it  to  his  lips.  She  quickly  withdrew  it 
and  stood  before  him,  still  looking  into  his  eyes, 
but  now  as  if  bewildered. 

They  sat  again  in  their  respective  places,  and 
as  Chalmer  Grose  contemplated  the  uninjured 
hand  that  rested  upon  his  knee,  his  face  showed 
agitation.  This  was  soon  quieted,  and  he 
resumed  his  speech,  repeating  his  first  assertion : 

"  It  was  a  pleasant  situation,  as  fair  as  could 
be  in  the  midst  of  calamity.  It  should  have 
remained  so  to  the  end.  We  could  then  have 
wedded  with  propriety — if  you  would — and 
with  applause  from  all  the  world.  No  scandal 
would  have  sought  you.  Your  devotion  to  me 
had  disarmed  it. 

"  You  went  from  me — by  stealth,  it  seemed 
to  others — as  if  you  tired  in  the  companionship 
of  an  invalid.  Then  men  began  to  talk,  in  the 
hotel  and  in  the  city — men  who  know  the 


230  SERAI/THA. 

world — and  they  said:  'She  stays  with  pleasure, 
but  goes  from  pain.  She  is  not  to  be  his  wife — 
she  is  something  else.'  What  they  said  came 
with  you  upon  the  train  and  spread  abroad  in 
this  city.  It  grieved  me;  but  grief  cannot  undo 
what  has  been  done.  I  can  shield  you  from 
further  calumny,  and  honorably.  Shall  I  con 
tinue?" 

A  carriage  was  passing  by,  and  her  sight  fol 
lowed  it.  When  it  had  disappeared  around 
the  corner,  she  turned  quickly  toward  him 
and  said: 

"  You  may  continue." 

"We  can  marry,  if  you  wish,  and  as  I  shall 
advise;  and  time  will  clear  us  both  from 
reproach.  Society  menaces  him  who  would 
wed  where  it  has  defamed,  and  business  men 
look  askance  upon  him.  Should  you  consent 
to  aid  in  my  protection  from  these  grievances,  I 
can  aid  you  to  a  restoration  of  that  which  has 
been  taken  from  you." 

He  moved  upon  his  seat  BO  that  he   might 


SERALTHA.  231 

speak  toward,  yet  not  fully  look  upon  her,  and 
continued: 

"The  Courts  of  California — and  justly,  too, 
(for,  what  two  persons  may  do  concerns  them 
—  none  others)  —  concede  the  privilege  of 
matrimony  to  those  who  agree  with  each  other, 
in  writing,  to  assume  that  state.  This  writ 
ing  is  a  marriage  certificate.  The  marriage 
may  not  be  known  to  society  for  years,  if  the 
parties  so  will,  and  they  may  still  possess  its 
benefits.  We  can  do  this,  and  remain  together 
in  secrecy,  as  I  will  explain  to  you,  later  on. 
When  society  has  forgotten  your  mistake,  in  its 
attention  to  those  of  others  which  will  follow, 
we  can  appear  in  public  as  man  and  wife,  with 
out  dishonor.  You  may  be  satisfied  of  the 
legality  of  this  form  of  marriage  by  consulting 
with  any  lawyer  in  San  Francisco.  I  should 
wish  you  to  be  satisfied.  I  wish  to  do  right  by 
you,  and  I  ask  a  like  consideration  for  myself." 

"Would  society  forget?"  This  inquiry  bore 
a  tone  of  doubt,  yet  it  expressed  eagerness  and 
something  of  hope. 


232  SEBALTHA. 

"  Society  has  fads  and  whims/'  he  answered, 
decisively.  "  They  are  laid  aside  and  forgotten. 
This  year  it  makes  assertions  and  the  next  year 
denies  them.  One  year  may  be  sufficient  for 
our  seclusion." 

"My  mother  will  be  happy  again!"  she 
exclaimed,  almost  gleefully,  and  then  sud 
denly  became  agitated. 

Chalmer  Grose  looked  at  her  in  astonish 
ment.  This  was  an  involuntary  expression  of  a 
thought,  but  he  accepted  it  as  a  yielding  to  his 
proposal. 

'  Your  mother  should  not  know  until  we  have 
made  it  public.  She  would  not  comprehend. 
She  could  not  keep  your  secret.  We  will  pro 
vide  for  her  comfort.  This  can  be  arranged. 
No  one  should  know  except  Mammy  St.  Pier, 
and  she  should  not  know  the  reasons  for  secrecy. 
She  is  your  friend  and  will  keep  your  secret 
forever,  if  you  tell  it  to  her  in  a  dark  room  at 
midnight.  Tell  her.  She  will  aid  us.  But  do 
not  tell  her  the  reasons.  She  cannot  compre 
hend  "— 


SERALTHA.  233 

Seraltha  had  become  composed,  and  inter 
rupted  him  :  "You  are  assuming  too  much. 
I  have  not  consented." 

"  I  speak  subject  to  your  consent — for  the 
benefit  of  both,  it  seems  to  me.  This  provides 
a  way  to  free  us  wholly  from  difficulties.  Upon 
reflection  you  will  consent,  I  believe.  I  will 
speak  further,  with  your  permission."  She  was 
silent,  and  he  continued: 

"  We  can  live  as  befits  our  station.  I  com 
mand  in  the  Hotel  Havencourt,  and  am  obeyed. 
I  will  be  consistent  with  you.  You  should 
know  details.  I  should  arrange  two  suites  of 
rooms  as  one,  opening  into  separate  corridors. 
Guests  of  hotels  are  mindful  of  their  own 
affairs,  and  you  could  occupy,  seemingly,  your 
own  suite,  and  I,  mine;  each  passing  in  and  out 
through  separate  doors  without  notice  from 
others.  Beautifully  furnished  they  are — would 
be — and  we  can  live  there  pleasantly  retired. 
Every  luxury  will  be  ours,  except  that  of 
society,  and  of  this  we  shall  be  deprived  only  a 
year  or  two.  It  is  not  what  I  had  thought,  but 


234  SEEALTHA. 

it  is  the  best  that  we  can  do.  It  is  for  my  good 
and  yours.  Seraltha,  I  love  you!  I  ask  you  to 
be  my  wife! " 

Hermina's  words  flashed  into  her  memory, 
and  her  lips  began  a  repetition:  "By  him  it 
may  be  spoken  in  lust."  She  cheeked  this  dem 
onstration  of  her  affliction,  but  her  eyes  wan 
dered  over  him.  Her  words  drew  his  atten 
tion  to  her,  and  fancy  again  showed  him  the 
three  revolvers  glistening  within  the  chiffonier. 
This  time  a  certain  fear  came  upon  him.  He 
cowered  under  her  glances. 

"What  is  love?  "  She  leaned  far  forward  in 
her  chair.  Her  eyes  became  steady  as  she 
added— "Your  love?" 

"  To — give  good,  to — do  good  to  one  whom  I 
have  selected  to  be  my  wife  from  among  all 
others — if  she  will  accept."  He  drew  a  breath 
of  relief  and  moved  toward  her. 

'•  The  definition  of  mine,"  she  responded,  "  is  a 
devotion  of  myself  to  one  who  can  bring  about 
me  the  better  things  of  life.  If  this  is  sufficient 
to  you  I  will  accept,  under  the  conditions  that 


SEBALTHA.  235 

you  have  made — if  a  marriage  by  written  agree 
ment  is  allowed  by  the  law. 

He  sprang  to  her  side,  as  if  to  embrace  her. 
She  shrank  from  him.  He  caught  her  hand 
and  raised  it  toward  his  lips.  She  drew  it 
away. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

an  evening  of  the  week  following  that  in 
which  the  promise  of  Seraltha  Ames  was 
given,  Hamilton  Tucker  and  his  wife  Hermina 
were  at  their  office,  No.  12  Hotel  Havencourt 
Block.  The  curtains  of  the  windows  were  closely 
drawn,  and  after  a  short  conversation  he  locked 
the  door  and  put  the  key  in  his  pocket.  He 
then  went  near  to  Hermina,  who  sat  at  her  desk 
reading  a  paper  of  legal  pattern,  and,  with  an 
imprecation,  vehemently  said: 

"There's  been  coaxing  enough  and  there's 
been  nonsense  enough  on  your  part.  Now  you 
have  got  to  copy  that  writing  in  perfect  imita 
tion.  You  can  do  it.  The  right  or  wrong  of  it 
has  got  nothing  to  do  with  you  or  me." 

"  But  I  shall  not  copy  it,"  she  answered,  decis 
ively. 

''  Then  I've  got  no  more  use  for  you — neither 
here  nor  elsewhere.  But  I  can  crush  that  non- 

(236) 


SERALTHA.  237 

sense  out  of  you."  He  seized  her  neck  and 
bent  her  head  forward  over  the  desk.  His 
grasp  tightened,  and  his  sight  rested  upon  the 
soft  black  hair  in  glossy  coils  above  his  thumbs. 
She  did  not  struggle,  and  amidst  a  silence 
that  seemed  to  force  itself  into  the  room 
and  congeal  around  him,  he  heard  the  faint 
clicking  of  coins  and  the  almost  inaudible 
voices  of  men.  The  cinch-room  was  beyond, 
and  men  were  there  in  numbers.  Muffled 
sounds  of  footsteps  came  through  the  walls;  the 
nearer  measured,  and  the  distant  blended  into 
a  murmur,  yet  all  were  hastening  with  approach 
ing  tread.  He  looked  away  from  her,  toward 
the  cinch-room,  and  toward  the  walls  behind 
him  and  upon  either  side.  He  reflected  an 
instant,  then  loosened  his  grasp.  Kneeling,  he 
drew  her  face  to  his,  and,  stroking  her  cheek, 
pleaded  for  forgiveness.  She  recovered  and 
drew  away  from  him. 

He  arose,  and,  gathering  the  papers  upon  her 
desk,  carefully  placed  them  within  his  own 
cabinet.  He  went  with  her  to  their  lodgings, 


238  SERALTHA. 

and  although  she  was  constantly  silent  he  was 
gallant,  attentive,  and  apparently  contrite.  As 
he  continued  his  amiabilities  for  three  days,  she 
began  to  accept  his  repeated  assertion  that  his 
heart  was  all  right,  but  that  his  judgment  had 
been  overwhelmed  by  sudden  anger.  She 
granted  him  forgiveness,  and  as  a  recompense 
he  proposed  that  they  should  close  the  office  for 
a  day  and  together  visit  the  grain  ranch  of  Chal- 
mer  Grose,  where,  he  said,  it  was  then  necessary 
that  he  should  make  a  tour  of  inspection.  She 
assented,  and  on  the  following  morning  they 
boarded  a  train  which  would  convey  them  to  a 
village  situated  a  few  miles  from  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  ranch. 

Arriving  there  at  noon  they  dined  and  after 
ward  secured  a  horse  and  carriage,  by  which 
conveyance  they  drove  toward  the  grain  ranch. 
On  the  train  Hamilton  Tucker  had  been  atten 
tive  and  respectful  to  his  wife,  and  while  it 
did  not  restore  to  her  a  full  measure  of  hap 
piness,  her  heart  felt  light,  and  the  scenery 
seemed  doubly  beautiful.  They  were  now  in  the 


SERALTHA.  239 

valley  of  the  San  Joaquin  and  driving  toward 
the  south.  Other  valleys  confine  the  sight  to 
narrow  limits,  or  diffuse  it  into  a  dull  horizon. 
Here  immensity  enthralls  the  sight.  The  Sier 
ras  rise  in  the  east,  awe-inspiring  in  their 
remoteness.  Banks  of  cloud,  gathered  in  mists 
from  the  ocean  and  floating  high  over  Tehachapi, 
border  it  in  the  south ;  while  an  undulating  line 
along  the  western  sky  traces  the  summit  of 
Coast  Range.  From  these  the  sky  arches  in 
unbroken  azure.  Within  lies  verdure  and  broad 
streams,  and  the  wealth  of  grain  and  fruit  and 
flowers. 

After  a  short  drive  on  the  public  road,  Ham 
ilton  Tucker  turned  the  horse  into  an  unfre 
quented  way,  by  which  they  arrived  at  the  limit 
of  the  ranch  farthest  from  the  dwellings,  which 
were  two  miles  distant,  and  hidden  from  sight 
by  a  ridge.  Another  ranch  spread  in  an  opposite 
direction,  the  distant  buildings  being  hidden 
behind  a  similar  ridge.  A  barbed-wire  fence 
enclosed  the  property  of  Chalmer  Grose,  giving 
admittance  through  a  heavy  gate. 


240  SERALTHA. 

As  they  drove  through  the  gate,  faint,  noxious 
odors  came  to  them  upon  the  southern  hreeze. 
As  they  advanced,  the  odors  became  stronger, 
and  in  the  distance  dark  objects  circled  about 
in  the  air.  Advancing  farther,  they  ap 
proached  a  deep  ravine,  its  sides  covered  "with 
willow  and  nightshade.  He  drew  the  horse  to  a 
halt.  Hoarse  sounds  of  contention  and  the 
rustle  of  wings  arose  from  the  ravine.  Above 
it,  shrill  screams  of  alarm  came  from  the  beaks 
of  circling  vultures. 

Hamilton  Tucker  descended  from  the  carriage, 
and,  without  speaking,  detached  the  horse  from 
it  and  secured  him  to  a  rear  wheel.  He  then 
went  near  to  Hermina  and  looked  up  to  her. 
As  if  the  exponents  of  death,  floating  in  the  air 
above  and  contending  in  the  ravine  below,  had 
foreboded  evil  to  her,  the  flush  of  gratification 
that  had  spread  over  her  face,  faded,  and  the 
faint  wrinkles  traced  by  shame  and  contrition 
deepened  into  alarm. 

Hamilton  Tucker  pointed  his  finger  down 
the  ravine.  The  deadly  fruit  of  the  night- 


SERALTHA.  241 

shade  clustered  in  dark  bunches  along  the  side, 
and  the  willows  swayed  over  them  in  suggestive 
drooping.  Her  eyes  followed  the  motion  of  his 
hand.  "  No  one  ever  goes  down  there,  except 
those  that  have  died,"  he  said.  "  No  one  ever 
sees  them  again.  They  go  to  the  mountains  at 
nightfall  with  the  vultures." 

She  looked  at  the  mountains.  The  wall  of 
the  Sierras  seemed  swiftly  to  approach,  and  the 
cloud  over  Tehachapi  expanded  toward  her. 

".I  have  something  for  you  to  do,"  he  con 
tinued,  "if  you  do  it  we  will  go  away  together.  If 
you  don't  do  it,  I  shall  go  alone,  and  to-morrow, 
at  nightfall,  you  will  go  to  the  mountains  with 
the  vultures."  He  drew  from  a  pocket  the 
manuscript  that  she  had  refused  to  copy,  then 
her  pen ;  from  another  a  small  bottle  of  ink, 
together  with  blank  paper  of  legal  pattern  and 
a  tablet  upon  which  to  write. 

He  laid  them  upon  the  seat  beside  her  and 
raised  the  half-opened  canopy  of  the  carriage. 
Stepping  back  three  paces  he  commanded 
her  to  write.  She  made  no  movement.  He 


242  SEKALTHA. 

folded  his  arms  across  his  breast,  waiting.  Her 
head  drooped  against  the  stanchions  of  the  can 
opy,  her  eyes  closed,  and  her  face  became  as  a 
lily  in  whiteness. 

The  screams  of  alarm  from  above  had  ceased ; 
and  the  sounds  of  contention  and  the  rustle  of 
wings  in  the  ravine  below  had  increased  in 
volume  as  she  slowly  revived  to  consciousness 
and  looked  upon  him  as  he  stood,  still  waiting. 

:<  Write!  "  he  said;  but  she  made  no  response. 

Placing  his  right  hand  within  his  waistcoat 
he  drew  a  stylet  from  it.  The  weapon  flashed 
its  beveled  surfaces  against  the  sunlight  and  his 
chest  heaved  with  gathering  determination. 
She  gazed  upon  it  as  if  fascinated,  and  then 
with  an  effort  drew  her  sight  away.  She  looked 
rapidly  over  the  slope  upon  her  right,  and  then 
to  the  one  upon  her  left.  No  one  appeared 
within  her  sight,  and  none  could  hear  an  outcry. 
The  sun  was  declining,  and  the  sounds  of  con 
tention  in  the  deep  ravine  were  becoming  more 
discordant. 


SEEALTHA.  243 

He  advanced  toward  her.  She  raised  the 
tablet  from  the  seat,  and,  placing  the  blank 
papers  upon  it,  began  to  write.  She  did  not 
use  the  manuscript  in  copying — the  words  had 
burned  themselves  into  her  brain. 

When  her  writing  was  completed  he  tore  the 
manuscript  into  shreds  and  threw  them  into  the 
ravine.  The  copy  he  put  into  an  inside  pocket 
of  his  waistcoat,  together  with  the  stylet.  Look 
ing  at  his  watch,  he  said  : 

"  We  will  now  return.  There  is  time  to  make 
the  evening  train  by  good  driving." 

He  attached  the  horse  to  the  carriage  and 
drove  rapidly  over  the  unfrequented  road  toward 
the  village,  and  they  arrived  in  time  for  the 
train  to  San  Francisco. 

Hamilton  Tucker  had  made  no  tour  of  inspec 
tion  upon  the  grain  ranch  of  Chalmer  Grose; 
but,  with  the  aid  of  the  vultures  of  the  moun 
tains,  he  had  effected  that  which  long  afterward 
was  a  standing  point  for  vultures  of  the  law  as 
thev  tore  at  the  heart  of  a  woman. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

the  days  passed  by,  and  Seraltha  re- 
fleeted  upon  the  proposal  of  Chalmer 
Grose,  she  became  satisfied  with,  its  terms. 
Socially  his  position  appeared  to  be  far  above 
her  plane;  that  he  should  strive  to  protect 
himself  there,  seemed  proper.  Again,  she  had 
not  kept  faith  with  society  in  that  which  it 
most  strenuously  required  of  her — a  blame 
less  public  deportment.  She  had  betrayed  it, 
unwittingly,  surely,  but  nevertheless  essentially. 
Her  exclusion  from  its  benefits,  for  a  year  or 
two,  in  consequence,  began  to  assume  the  char 
acter  of  a  suitable  penance.  Besides,  he  made 
her  frequent  visits,  and  with  regrets,  amiabili 
ties  and  promises  of  future  happiness,  aided  to 
dispel  her  misgivings. 

"To  be  sure,"  he  said  to  her  one  day,  as  he 
sat  in  the  double  parlor,  "  I  cannot  put  all  the 
blame  of  our  discomfort  upon  you,  although  I 

(244) 

\ 


8EBALTHA.  245 

was  in  great  pain  and  scarcely  responsible. 
While  I  am  forced  to  assume  a  part,  I  still  give 
my  thoughts  to  our  future  happiness.  I  see 
clearly  through  to  the  time  when  all  these 
clouds  will  have  passed  away,  and  we  shall  be  in 
sunshine.  We  will  aid  each  other  to  that  end." 

"  And  I  am  becoming  aware,"  she  responded, 
"  that  I  was  imprudent,  and  appreciate  your 
generosity." 

After  an  hour  spent  in  pleasant  conversation 
he  arose,  and,  taking  her  hand,  held  it  in  his. 
She  did  not  withdraw  it.  He  stooped  and  kissed 
her.  She  returned  the  kiss  coldly. 

He  praised  her  dress  for  the  evening  when 
their  agreement  should  go  into  effect  and  went 
away  in  a  pleasant  mood.  The  ceremony  of 
signing  the  agreement  was  appointed  for  an 
evening  within  two  weeks  from  the  date  of  this 
visit,  in  the  house  on  Pine  street.  They  were 
to  go  thence  to  the  Hotel  Havencourt. 

That  the  affliction  which  had  left  slight  traces 
upon  Seraltha  was  wholly  mental,  became  evi 
dent  from  the  almost  total  disappearance  of  its 


246  SERALTHA. 

manifestations  when  she  was  thus  relieved  of 
apprehension.  A  certain  mobility  of  her  eyes 
when  engaged  in  conversation  was  all  that  now 
remained,  and  this  was  of  a  nature  that  merely 
gave  animation  to  her  countenance. 

In  the  manner  suggested  by  Chalmer  Grose 
she  had  imparted  her  secret  to  Lethe  St.  Pier, 
who  received  and  buried  it  under  crosses  over 
her  heart  in  Seraltha's  chamber  at  midnight. 
In  her  elation  that  the  girl — whom  she  now 
undoubtedly  loved  with  all  the  strength  of  her 
intense  nature — was  to  realize  her  aspirations, 
although  in  an  unconventional  way,  Lethe  gave 
full  expression  to  her  emotions.  She  spoke  of 
the  prophecy  which  was  now  being  fulfilled,  and 
insisted  that  her  powers  be  applied  to  a  dis 
covery  of  methods  to  insure  future  good  fortune. 
She  spent  the  remainder  of  the  night  in  this 
purpose,  while  Seraltha  slept  in  the  peace  of 
deliverance. 

While  waiting  upon  Seraltha  at  breakfast  the 
following  morning,  Lethe  gave  the  information 
that  she  had  received  in  the  dark  room  by  the 


SEKALTHA.  247 

furnace.  The  prognosis  had  been  pleasant,  and 
she  was  in  ecstacy. 

"  I  waited,  en  waited,  en  bimeby  spirits  come. 
Den  I  whisper  toh  dem, '  My  honey  wants  her 
forchin.'  Den  dey  whisper, '  We's  dillinatin' 
spirits.  Look  in  dah  flame  ob  dah  lamp,  en 
wait.'  Den  dey  doan  speak  any  moh,  but  I 
knows  dey  was  dar,  all  'round  me. 

"  I  looked  in  dah  flame,  en  waited,  en  waited, 
en  waited;  en  'twas  so  long  I'se  knowin'  some- 
fin  good  is  coniin'  foh  shuah.  Bimeby  dah 
flame  'gun  toh  grow,  en  it  growed  up,  en  out. 
Den  a  spider  come  stringin'  down  froh  dah 
ceilin'!  Right  onto  dah  table  befo'  me!  Dahs 
dah  mostes  kind  ob  good  forchin  when  dah 
spiders  come  stringin'  down.  Den  I  see  some- 
fin  colorin',  right  in  dah  middle  ob  dah  flame. 
I  whispers,  '  Dat's  apple-blossom ! '  Den  it  went 
away.  Musn't  whisper  when  dillinatin'  spirits 
is  'round — mus'  think.  Den  I  looked  more,  en 
waited.  Dar 'twas  agin!  Same  like  dah  firs' 
time!  Den  I  think,  'What's  apple-blossoms  gwine 


248  SEKALTHA. 

toh  do  foh  my  honey?'  I  'spected  orange- 
blossoms. 

"  Den  dah  color  growed,  mostes  up  en  down, 
en  it  'gun  toh  shine.  Den  I  look,  en  I  think, 
'  Dats  plush ! '  Den  it  growed,  en  dah  flame  got 
white  en  glittered  on  it.  Chile !  Chile !  If  dem 
spirits  let  yoh  see  dat  I'se  done  call  yoh  down 
dar  in  yoh  night-clos',  but  dey  wouldn't.  Jes' 
dah  be-u-tifulest  dress  ebber  yoh  see! — 'cept  a 
shuah-nuif  weddin'  dress.  Dah  train  reach  'way 
out,  mos'  as  fur  as  dah  flame,  en  dah  flame  jes' 
as  big  as  dah  room.  Den  pearls  come  round 
dah  neck  ob  dah  dress,  big  as  dem  pebbles  on 
dah  sho'  where  dah  water  splashes  up,  en  dey 
shine — down  on  dah  dress;  en  sometime  I  doan 
know  if  it's  white,  en  sometime  I  doan  know  if 
it's  pink.  Chile!  Yoh  autoh  see  it! 

"Den  I  think,  <  Whose's  dat  dress?'  Den 
mah  honey's  slippers  come  under  it,  en  dah 
gold  toes  peak  out  in  front.  Den  her  arms 
come  in  dah  puffs  on  dah  shoulders,  jes'  like 
marble,  en  dey  fold  demseves  cross  dah  waist, 
en  waited.  Den  a  bunch  ob  apple-blossoms 


8EBALTHA.  249 

come  in  dah  right  hand!  Dey  tremble  like 
somebuddy's  inside  dah  dress,  en  waited,  en 
waited. 

"  Den  I  think,  '  Ain't  dem  dillinatin' spirits 
gwine  toh  show  me  no  moh  ?  Dis  is  bad  forchin 
for  shuah,  if  dey  doan.'  Chile!  Den  mah  eyes 
see  dah  blessedest  face!  Jes'  like  dah  spirit 
ones.  Den  I  knows  yoh's  dar  sister,  en  dey's 
gwine  toh  keer  foh  yoh.  Dat  was  yoh  face !  It 
'gun  toh  grow  like  dah  earthly  one,  en  bimeby 
dah  eyes  grow  so  bright  dat  dah  pearls  doan 
shine  no  moh.  Den  dah  flame  went  away, 
all  'cept  dah  lamp-light  dat  I  was  lookin'  intoh." 

It  was  a  copy  from  this  vision  of  apple- 
blossom  plush,  and  the  necklace  of  pearls, 
which  Lethe  insisted  Seraltha  should  wear  as  a 
harbinger  of  good  fortune  on  the  evening  of  the 
signing  of  the  contract.  It  was  this  attire  to 
the  wearing  of  which  Chalmer  Grose  gave 
approval  just  after  he  had  placed  his  first  kiss 
upon  the  lips  of  Seraltha  Ames. 

Madam  Convincia  Hitts  afterward  came  to 
the  house  on  Pine  street  and  made  a  gown  like 


250  SEKALTHA. 

that  seen  by  Lethe  St.  Pier  in  the  flame  of  the 
lamp.  The  necklace  of  pearls  was  clasped 
around  Seraltha's  neck  by  Chalmer  Grose,  just 
before  signing  their  agreement. 

The  appointed  evening  arrived.  Lethe  had 
removed  the  obstructions  from  the  passage 
through  the  barn,  and  at  nine  o'clock  the  car 
riage  of  Chalmer  Grose  stood  by  the  rear  porch 
of  the  house  in  waiting.  The  rains  of  early 
autumn,  approaching  from  the  sea,  threw  their 
fitful  outskirts  over  the  sky,  veiling  the  moon 
in  gray  and  pearl.  The  southwest  wind,  laden 
with  the  bouquet  of  ocean  sedge  and  mosses, 
rustled  the  trees  and  shrubbery.  Inconstantly 
the  gas  lights  nickered  in  the  streets,  pushing 
their  dim  lustre  along  the  verandas.  At  times 
it  paled,  and,  wasting  its  sheen  upon  the  ground 
below,  threw  weird  shadows  of  bush  and  trellis 
along  the  lawns. 

The  winds    increased,   the    dampness    grew 
heavier,  and  the  shadows  deepened.    The  coach 
man  closed  his  coat  from  chin  to  boot,  and  waited. 
"Within  the  parlors  were  flowers  and  foliage, 


SEEALTHA.  251 

in  vases  upon  the  tables  and  in  festoons  along 
the  walls.  A  horseshoe  of  smilax  and  tuberose 
opened  over  the  curtains  that  hung  at  the  exit 
to  the  vestibule.  These  had  been  arranged  by 
Lethe  St.  Pier,  and  they  filled  the  parlors  with 
fragrance  inappropriate  to  the  scene  which  trans 
pired  that  evening  about  a  mahogany  table  that 
reflected  the  light  of  a  chandelier  from  its  pol 
ished  surface. 

Seraltha  sat  beside  the  table,  robed  in  the 
gown  of  apple-blossom  plush.  The  pearls  of 
her  necklace  reflected  their  pale  light  upon  it  as 
she  moved,  and  her  marble  arms,  tapering  into 
mosquetaire  gloves,  vied  with  them  in  clarity. 
She  was  serene  and  self-contained.  She  dis 
cussed  with  Chalmer  Grose  the  terms  of  the 
agreement,  a  copy  of  which  she  held  before  her. 
He  held  a  corresponding  paper,  and  upon  it  was 
written  the  word  "  Original." 

When  Matrimony  consults  a  lawyer  the  blush 
is  taken  from  its  cheek,  and  to  her  who  is  about 
to  enter  its  chambers  a  like  contact  brings  au 
dacity.  With  a  copy  of  the  agreement  in  her 


252  SERALTHA. 

possession,  provided  for  her  by  Chalmer  Grose, 
Seraltha  had  consulted  authorities  in  relation 
to  its  legality.  Intent  upon  this  purpose,  she 
had  visited  a  building  where  many  lawyers  had 
offices,  immediately  after  agreeing  to  the  pro 
posal  of  marriage.  Selecting  at  random  from 
among  the  names  displayed  upon  signs  along  the 
corridor,  she  hesitatingly  entered  a  door.  The 
occupant  being  temporary  absent  an  usher 
escorted  her  to  his  private  office,  where  she  sat 
awaiting  his  return.  Within  a  half  hour  the 
lawyer  arrived.  During  this  interview,  the  first 
lesson  in  duplicity  was  forced  upon  her.  The 
lawyer  had  been  one  among  those  of  the  recep 
tion  at  Monterey. 

"  A  friend,"  Seraltha  said,  in  answer  to  his 
inquiry,  "  requests  me  to  consult  you  regarding 
the  legality  of  this  writing." 

She  laid  it  before  him.  He  carefully  read 
and  re-read  it.  He  then  said: 

11  It  is  an  agreement  of  marriage.  Does  your 
friend  wish  my  opinion  upon  the  advisability 
of  a  marriage  of  this  kind?  ' 


SERALTHA.  253 

The  words  of  Chalmer  Grose  flashed  to  her 
thought — "  What  two  persons  may  do  concerns 
them — none  others  " — and  fortified  her  against 
that  which  might  be  good  to  know,  but 
which  was  foreign  to  her  inquiry.  "  I  want  your 
opinion  of  its  legality  and  proper  wording," 
she  answered. 

"What  is  the  age  of  your  friend?"  the  law 
yer  asked. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  Seraltha  answered,  disquieted 
lest  other  questions  should  reveal  her  position 
to  him.  She  looked  away  from  him  to  her 
hands,  which  were  caressing  each  other  upon 
her  lap. 

"  If  she  is  past  eighteen,"  he  slowly  said, 
"  her  signature  will  be  legal  and  the  instrument 
valid,  if  both  parties  are  in  accord. 

"  And  the  marriage  will  be  the  same  as  any 
other?"  She  inclined  forward  and  looked  in 
tently  at  him  as  she  spoke. 

"  Legally,"  the  lawyer  answered. 

A  faint  smile  came  upon  his  face,  disclosing 
the  nature  of  his  opinion,  but  which  Seraltha 


254  SEBALTHA. 

accepted  as  one  of  entire  approval.  Legality 
to  her  untaught  comprehension  included  all  the 
rest. 

The  lawyer  saying  no  more  upon  the  subject, 
Seraltha  paid  his  fee  and  departed.  As  she 
walked  along  the  corridor,  suspicion  suddenly 
entered  her  mind.  "  The  lawyer  was  at 
Monterey!  He  saw  her  there  in  company  with 
Chalmer  Grose.  Was  he  desirous  that  the  form 
should  be  approved?  Was  it  not  even  he  who 
wrote  the  form?  Was  he  not  a  counsellor  to 
Chalmer  Grose  ?  He  had  smiled  as  he  gave  his 
opinion.  Was  it  of  satisfaction?  Might  it  not 
be  a  trap,  yawning  with  dishonor  and  shame?  " 

She  selected  another  name,  far  down  the  cor 
ridor.  It  was  easy  now  to  enter  where  before 
she  had  hesitated.  The  occupant  showed  her 
to  his  private  office,  where  she  sat  beside 
him.  She  was  not  abashed  when  she  told  him 
her  mission.  She  spoke  plainly  about  herself, 
and  calmly  discussed  with  the  lawyer  the  legal 
questions  involved  in  the  marriage  agreement. 
His  opinion  was  in  accord  with  that  already 


SEBALTHA.  255 

given.  When  she  went  again  to  the  corridor 
there  was  that  upon  her  which  comes  to  a 
woman  from  dalliance  with  the  law — deteriora 
tion. 

While  sitting  at  the  mahogany  table,  Chalmer 
Grose  did  not  open  fully  the  paper  superscribed 
"  Original;"  but  as  he  read  in  response  to  Seral- 
tha's  comments  and  inquiries,  he  closed  the 
folds,  except  the  one  upon  which  the  clause  in 
discussion  was  written.  When  she  announced 
her  satisfaction,  he  drew  a  deep  breath  of  relief. 

Seraltha  directed  Lethe,  who  sat  near  by 
in  waiting,  to  bring  writing  materials  from 
her  dressing-room.  When  these  were  placed 
before  them  Chalmer  Grose  opened  the  lower 
fold  of  the  "  Original "  upon  the  table,  and,  hold 
ing  the  remaining  folds  together,  he  wrote  his 
signature  upon  that  which  was  unfolded  before 
him.  This  he  dried  with  a  blotter,  giving  it  a 
heavy  pressure.  He  then  took  the  copy,  which 
she  had  placed  upon  the  table,  and  signed  it  as 
it  lay,  full  opened.  He  then  gave  the  pen  to 
Seraltha,  who  wrote  her  signature  upon  the  copy 


256  SERALTHA. 

underneath  his.  This  done,  he  laid  the  blotter 
upon  the  signature,  afterward  taking  the  copy 
in  possession.  He  then  gave  her  the  "Original." 
She  wrote  her  name  under  that  of  Chalmer 
Grose.  Thus  Seraltha  Ames  became  Seraltha 
Ames  Grose. 

"Keep  the  original  for  yourself,"  he  said;  "  it 
is  all  in  my  own  handwriting,  and  I  will  retain 
the  copy.  Put  on  your  traveling  suit  and  pre 
pare  your  trunk.  We  will  take  it  with  us." 

As  Seraltha  began  these  preparations  in  her 
dressing-room,  with  the  assistance  of  Lethe, 
Chalmer  Grose  retained  his  seat  at  the  table. 
"When  they  had  been  absent  a  short  time,  he 
took  a  slip  of  paper,  that  fell  to  his  lap  when 
he  removed  the  blotter  from  the  original,  and 
noiselessly  tore  it  into  fragments.  He  then 
went  to  the  vestibule,  and  stepping  out  upon  the 
veranda,  threw  the  fragments  out  into  the 
dim  gas  light.  The  wind  bore  them  in  a  snowy 
scud  to  the  pavement  of  Pine  street. 

The  change  of  dress  was  completed ;  the  coach 
man  had  placed  the  steamer  trunk  on  the  seat 


SEEALTHA.  257 

beside  him  and  covered  it  with  a  lap  robe. 
Chalmer  Grose  escorted  Seraltha  to  the  carriage, 
and,  taking  a  seat  beside  her,  closed  the  door. 
The  curtains  had  already  been  drawn. 

As  the  carriage  turned  upon  the  causeway 
Lethe  St.  Pier  stood  in  the  rear  door  of  the 
house,  and  soliloquized: 

"  Foh  dah  Massah,  dat's  dah  curusess  weddin' 
I'se  ebber  seed  on  dis  yearth!  No  cahds,  no 
'gratulations,  no  ministah,  no  judge — nobuddy! 
Jes'  writing!  Nobuddy  kiss  dah  bride — he 
doan  kiss  her  hisself !  Nobody  frow  things  after 
dah  carriage,  en  it's  done  gwine  to  rain." 

Large  drops  spattering  upon  the  floor  of  the 
porch  near  her  feet,  and  an  increasing  darkness 
announced  the  approach  of  a  storm.  "  Foh 
suah,  I  doan  know  what  dem  folks  comin'  toh. 
Dah  apple-blossom  dress  dar  only  salvation. 
I'se  hopin'  for  dah  chile.  Chile!  Lethe  St. 
Pier's  hopin'  foh  yoh,  en  dah  good  Lawd's 
knowin'  ob  it." 

The  carriage  had  passed  slowly  down  the  steep 
driveway  and  along  the  side  street  as  Lethe  was 


258  SEEALTHA. 

speaking.  It  was  now  out  of  her  sight.  Closing 
the  door  she  went  into  the  parlors  and  sat  upon 
Seraltha's  chair  by  the  mahogany  table  in 
deep  meditation. 

As  the  carriage  went  down  the  streets  toward 
its  destination,  the  rain  increased  and  formed 
turbid  rills  behind  the  bridal  party,  strewing 
dross  along  the  pavement  in  lieu  of  rice. 

At  eleven  o'clock  they  reached  the  Hotel 
Havencourt,  and  entered  their  chambers — the 
bride  and  groom  of  that  espousal  which  is  not 
of  Heaven,  nor  yet  of  the  good  of  the  earth — A 
Contract  Marriage. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

the  marriage  of  Colonel 
August  Garrison  and  Mrs.  Katie 
Twohy  had  been  celebrated.  After  a  bridal 
tour  they  selected  a  suite  of  rooms  in  the 
Hotel  Havencourt.  The  suite  was  upon  the 
same  floor  as  that  of  Chalmer  Grose,  and 
directly  opposite,  across  the  main  corridor. 

About  two  and  one-half  years  afterward,  while 
sitting  in  her  parlor  engaged  in  needlework, 
Mrs.  Garrison  heard  sounds  of  contention  from 
the  opposite  rooms.  Her  door  was  open.  A 
child  of  twenty  months  built  fortifications  of 
blocks  upon  a  rug  before  her  door,  and  charged 
them  with  drum  and  feet.  Repulsed  at  times  by 
gravitation,  he  made  renewed  attacks,  with 
increasing  noise  and  merriment.  Victorious, 
he  built  again,  and  again  attacked. 

It  was  during  the  intervals  of  these  attacks 
that  she  heard  the  sounds  of  contention.  They 

(259) 


260  SERALTHA. 

were  subdued  in  tone  by  the  closed  doors  and 
transoms  of  the  room  from  which  they  came, 
yet  their  nature  could  be  understood.  A  man 
was  reviling  a  defiant  woman. 

The  sounds  increased,  so  that  the  child  ceased 
the  building  of  his  fortifications,  and  listened. 
Suddenly  the  sounds  grew  fainter,  as  if  trans 
ferred  to  another  room.  The  child  resumed  the 
building,  and  prepared  his  drum  for  attack.  He 
had  made  his  first  breach  in  the  works  as  a 
woman's  screams  came  from  the  corridor. 

The  woman  advanced  rapidly  to  the  main 
corridor,  and  the  words  rang  through  it  dis 
tinctly:  "I  am  his  wife!  I  am  his  wife!  I 
am  his  wife!"  until  she  stood  before  the  fortifi 
cations  of  the  child  shaking  out  the  folds  of  a 
paper.  The  child  stepped  aside  while  the 
woman  advanced  toward  his  mother  without 
seeing  his  fort,  and,  stumbling  over  it,  she  fell 
heavily  along  the  rug. 

As  Mrs.  Garrison  recognized  the  prostrate 
woman  she  hastened  to  her  side  with  the  inten 
tion  of  assisting,  and  then  ordering  her  from 


SEBALTHA.  261 

her  parlor.  She  had  reasons  for  this  action;  yet 
when  the  woman  arose,  and,  unmindful  of  her 
fall,  gently  repeated  the  words  that  had  rung 
along  the  corridor,  she  felt  misgivings  of  the 
right  of  her  purpose.  Leading  her  to  a  seat, 
she  said: 

"  Compose  yourself  before  you  speak  further." 
Pity  is  conscious  of  sex.  It  is  active  toward 
the  opposite  and  passive  toward  the  like.  Mrs. 
Garrison  called  the  nurse,  who  removed  her 
child,  while  she  resumed  her  needlework.  Her 
thoughts  returned  from  the  cause  of  her 
lenity  toward  the  woman,  who  now  sat  upon 
a  sofa  earnestly  endeavoring  to  quell  the  tumult 
in  her  brain,  to  the  reasons  why  she  should 
expel  her  from  the  parlor. 

These  were  many,  notwithstanding  the  proba 
ble  truth  that  she  was  the  wife  of  Chalmer 
Grose.  She  had  entered  a  respectable  neighbor 
hood  and  had  brought  reproach  upon  it.  She 
had  been  a  subject  for  the  tongue  of  scandal. 
She  had  resided  there  stealthily.  She  had  with 
held  the  marriage  relation  from  its  social  uses 


262  SEEALTHA. 

and  confined  it  wholly  to  selfish  ends.  She  had 
discovered  that  her  position  was  an  improper 
one,  and  was  now  endeavoring  to  enter  upon  the 
right  by  the  aid  of  sympathy  from  those  who 
were  established  there. 

Especially  affecting  Mrs.  Garrison,  her  con 
tinued  presence  in  the  Hotel  Havencourt  had 
been  a  taint  upon  its  popularity  among  the 
circles  of  best  society.  True,  she  had  been 
unobtrusive.  None  could  have  asserted  that 
she  was  widow,  maid  or  wife,  without  appeal 
to  surmise,  yet  the  air  along  that  corridor 
seemed  dense  with  mystery,  and  many  who  had 
visited  there  remained  away  because  of  her 
presence. 

Yet,  all  these  reasons  for  her  expulsion  from 
the  parlor  were  outweighed  in  Mrs.  Garrison's 
final  decision,  by  a  thought  that  came  to  her 
when  she  raised  the  prostrate  woman  from  the 
floor.  "The  fortifications  which  society  built 
against  her  entrance  to  the  pathway  of  error 
were  like  those  the  child  built  before  the  door; 


SEEALTHA.  263 

weak  and  below  her  sight,  yet  sufficient  for  a 
tripping  and  a  fall." 

Seraltha  Ames  Grose  had  approached  tran- 
quility  while  Mrs.  Garrison  reflected,  and  now 
came  to  her  side  with  the  paper  that  she  had 
exhibited  at  the  door.  Mrs.  Garrison  read  it 
carefully.  It  was  the  marriage  contract,  super 
scribed  "  Original,"  which  Chalmer  Grose  had 
given  to  Seraltha  across  the  mahogany  table  in 
the  parlor  of  the  house  on  Pine  street. 

"  I  consented  when  this  was  signed,"  Seraltha 
said,  after  Mrs.  Garrison  had  returned  the 
paper,  "that  our  marriage  should  be  kept  a 
secret  for  two  years.  That  time  has  now  passed, 
and  he  insists  upon  an  extension  of  this  secrecy, 
its  termination  to  be  subject  to  his  will.  I  will 
not  consent.  I  am  his  wife !  I  am  his  wife ! 
You  are  not  disgraced  by  my  presence  here.  I 
cannot  live  longer  and  know  that  you  believe 
me  to  be  in  disgrace.  I  am  his  wife !  I  will 
inform  everybody — the  ladies  who  live  upon 
this  floor,  who  turn  their  faces  away  from  me 
as  I  pass  by  them;  their  husbands,  who  look 


264  BEBALTHA. 

disrespectfully  at  me  when  I.  meet  them;  the 
men  in  the  office,  who  gaze  after  me  as  I  go  upon 
the  street,  and  the  men  who  leer  at  me  as  I 
drive  in  the  park.  I  will  tell  them  all :  'I  am 
his  wife !  I  am  the  wife  of  Chalmer  Grose !  I 
was  his  wife  when  you  treated  me  disrespect 
fully.  Here  is  the  evidence ! '  She  unfolded 
the  paper  and  held  it  opened  above  her  head. 
"  I  will  shout  to  them  so  that  all  will  hear:  '  it 
is  a  marriage  certificate!  It  is  legal! '  I  cannot 
live  another  day  as  I  have  done  for  two  years. 
Two  years !  It  seems  an  age !  Oh,  my  Father 
above !  let  time  pass  by  me  as  it  once  did  I  I  will 
tell  them  all !  Hear  me ! " 

She  hastened  toward  the  door,  but  Mrs.  Gar 
rison  took  her  by  the  arm  and  gently  led  her  to 
the  sofa.  She  sat  beside  her,  although  uneasy, 
because  of  the  darkening  of  Serai tha's  eyes,  and 
the  rapid  movement  of  their  sight  from  place 
to  place  over  her  person. 

Rational  action  is  the  result  of  a  harmonious 
combination  of  mental  faculties,  of  desire,  im 
pulse  and  judgment.  Nervous  derangement, 


SERALTHA.  265 

from  that  of  apprehension  to  that  of  mania, 
destroys  judgment  and  imparts  its  vigor  to 
impulse.  Another  mind  may  supply  the 
deficiency  by  speech  or  other  influences.  Hence 
hypnotism,  which  has  no  control  over  a  fully 
rational  mind. 

Mrs.  Garrison  unconsciously  exerted  this 
power  upon  Seraltha.  Each  woman,  as  she 
became  seated  upon  the  sofa,  turned  to  confront 
the  other.  In  unison  with  the  movement  of  her 
eyes  Seraltha's  hands  opened  and  closed  the 
marriage  contract,  the  rustle  of  paper  disturbing 
the  quiet  of  the  parlor.  Gradually  this  move 
ment  ceased.  Her  body  inclined  towards  Mrs. 
Garrison,  and  her  sight  became  fixed  upon  her 
face.  She  then  sat  motionless,  except  for  a 
slight  inclination  forward. 

Something  of  sympathy  must  have  mingled 
with  what  she  was  receiving,  for  tears  began  to 
brim  her  eyes,  and,  sinking  through  the  lashes, 
trickled  down  her  cheeks  and  splashed  upon 
the  marriage  contract  that  now  lay  folded  in 
her  lap.  Others  followed  and  spread  the  ink 


266  SEBALTHA. 

among  the  inner  folds.  Mrs.  Garrison  awaited 
until  the  flow  of  tears  had  ceased,  and  then  said: 
"  The  methods  that  }rour  impulses  propose  are 
not  sufficient  for  your  relief.  By  their  use  you 
will  only  confirm  a  belief  in  your  social  degrada 
tion.  There  is  nothing  consistent  in  your 
marriage,  that  you  should  proclaim  it  to  society 
and  wish  to  continue  under  its  open  observation. 
There  is  no  protector,  as  nature  intended  there 
should  be.  Your  husband  holds  you  forth  to 
the  scorn  of  all,  and  when  you  resent  this  action 
he  reviles  you.  He  has  no  love  for  you.  Love 
never  conceals  its  object.  Nor  can  any  good 
accrue  to  you  in  the  continuance  of  such  a  state. 
Discord  in  the  home  is  a  cancer  that  destroys 
the  symmetry  of  society.  The  dishonor  of  a 
loveless  marriage  outranks  the  dishonor  of 
Marguerite.  And  your  marriage  is  loveless, 
even  to  you.  Love  would  not  submit  for  a  day 
to  what  you  have  endured  more  than  two  years. 
It  would  rather  seek  oblivion  in  suicide. 

"What  benefit  will  you  derive  going  along 
the  corridors,  or  upon  the  streets,  proclaiming, 


SEKALTHA.  267 

'I  ain  his  wife?'  You  but  announce  a  dishonor 
equal  to  that  which  men  have  already  imputed 
to  you.  Better  far  that  you  should  appear 
in  Court  and  demand  of  the  Judges,  '  Make  me 
again  Seraltha  Ames.  I  am  now  Seraltha  Ames 
Grose,  in  dishonor.  Free  me  from  it.' ' 

Mrs.  Garrison's  words  had  a  visible  effect  upon 
Seraltha;  but  she  was  not  conscious  that  she 
controlled  her  subject  by  a  power  more  subtle 
than  language  or  logic.  She  gave  credit  for  this 
result  to  the  force  of  right,  which  she  felt  the 
words  conveyed.  Her  positive  nature  demanded 
action  immediately  upon  a  decision,  and  being 
by  the  effects  of  experience  and  thought  in 
active  sympathy  with  the  means  of  relief  that 
she  had  suggested,  she  strengthened  her  control 
by  command. 

"You  have  decided,"  she  said.  "You  must 
go  immediately  to  a  lawyer.  I  know  of  one 
whom  you  may  trust.  I  will  go  with  you  to 
him.  Go  to  your  rooms  and  prepare  for  the 
streets.  I  will  meet  you  at  your  corridor  in  a 
few  moments." 


268  SEKALTHA. 

When  Seraltha  arose  to  obey  she  gave  greater 
evidence  of  hypnotic  control  than  when  seated. 
The  marriage  contract  dropped  unnoticed  by  her 
to  the  floor,  and  she  walked  directly  toward  her 
dressing-room,  encountering  with  much  force 
the  wall  near  which  she  had  been  sitting,  after 
ward  returning  to  Mrs.  Garrison,  who  led  her 
to  the  door  of  the  parlor. 

Seraltha  reached  her  dressing-room  without 
further  difficulty,  and  was  soon  attired  in  the 
surah  silk  gown  of  graduated  flounce  and  zouave 
effect,  together  with  the  English  hat,  that  still 
bore  the  ostrich  pompons  originally  placed 
upon  it,  and  the  satchel  of  oxidized  hook  and 
chain.  She  had  worn  this  costume  only  upon  a 
few  occasions  before  her  marriage,  but  never 
afterward,  until  now.  Mrs.  Garrison  noticed  the 
unfashionable  attire,  but  she  was  too  much 
engaged  in  thought  to  make  objection  to  its 
appearance  upon  the  street  in  her  company. 

Mrs.  Garrison  had  discovered  the  marriage 
contract  on  the  floor.  She  secured  it  and  car 
ried  it  in  her  hand  until  they  reached  the  office 


SERALTHA.  269 

of  the  lawyer.  When  they  entered,  Mrs.  Garri 
son  walked  in  advance  of  Seraltha,  and  approach 
ing  him,  as  he  sat  before  his  desk  with  his  side 
face  toward  her,  she  placed  the  marriage  con 
tract  in  his  hand  and  said: 

"  A  memory  of  your  good  services  to  me 
in  the  times  of  my  greatest  need  for  advice  has 
caused  me  to  bring  one  to  you  who  has  found  a 
deeper  dishonor  than  that  from  which  you  as 
sisted  my  escape.  She  will  ask  your  aid  to  free 
her  from  it.  Mrs.  Seraltha  Ames  Grose,  I  intro 
duce  you  to  the  Honorable  Abel  Hyman." 

Mrs.  Garrison  had  stepped  aside  as  she  made 
the  presentation.  His  face  came  fully  to  Seral- 
tha's  sight  when  his  name  was  spoken.  Mrs. 
Garrison's  influence  upon  her  was  suddenly  dis 
pelled,  and  Seraltha  became  oblivious  to  her 
presence.  Without  a  word,  she  knelt  by  his 
side  and  hid  her  face  in  her  hands,  which  she 
rested  upon  his  knee. 

Abel  Hyman  had  made  no  response  to  the 
presentation,  nor  did  he  move  to  disturb  her. 
He  unfolded  the  marriage  contract  and  read. 


270  SERALTHA. 

The  stain  of  tears  had  blurred  the  words,  and  he 
held  it  close  to  his  eyes,  and  yet  closer  after  he 
had  finished  the  reading.  Mrs.  Garrison  softly 
retired,  closing  the  door  as  she  passed  out. 

The  half-forehead  that  showed  above  the  paper 
which  Abel  Hyman  held  before  his  face  rose  to 
iron-gray  hair,  worn  long  and  pushed  directly 
backward  upon  the  crown,  revealing  broad  open 
spaces  upon  either  side  that  showed  lines  of 
thought,  and  the  love  of  grandeur  and  beauty. 
The  crown  extended  uncommonly  far  to  a  back- 
head  of  excessive  fullness.  As  he  sat,  his  figure 
showed  a  commanding  presence  that  would 
stand  in  towering  antagonism  when  he  arose  in 
opposition,  and  when  he  lowered  the  paper, 
noiselessly  folding  it,  antagonism  to  that  which 
he  had  read  shone  intensely  through  the  mois 
tened  lids  of  his  deep-set  black  eyes  and  spread 
over  his  smooth-shaved  face,  which  strongly 
expressed  the  rigor  of  his  profession,  but  which 
inclined  to  the  firmness  of  equity  rather  than 
to  the  severity  of  law.  The  flush  of  physical 
vigor  overspread  his  face.  There  appeared  in 


SERALTHA.  271 

his  movements  and  attitude  an  evidence  of 
determination  in  self-defense — not  of  the  quality 
which  covers  a  retreat,  but  of  that  which  holds 
a  weapon  for  an  assaulting  enemy. 

Chalmer  Grose  had  called  him,  "  Desperado! 
Murderer!"  He  was  born  a  Virginian,  yet 
there  mingled  in  his  blood  the  coldness  of  the 
Puritan  with  the  heat  of  the  Chevalier.  Strong 
influences  had  directed  his  boyhood  and  con 
trolled  his  earlier  manhood  to  finished  social 
conduct. 

"Who  steals  your  purse,"  said  his  social 
monitors  to  him,  "  will  fall  into  the  chains  of 
the  law.  Withhold  your  own  hand  from  him. 
For  him  who  would  despoil  your  honor  with 
insult  the  law  has  no  punishment.  Be  there 
fore  a  law  unto  yourself.  The  code  of  the  Duel 
is  your  remedy  for  assaults  upon  your  honor." 

The  Duel  is  a  midway  terrace  upon  the  eleva 
tion  that  society  is  ascending  to  reach  the  purity 
of  right  above.  It  overlooks  the  terraces  of  War, 
of  Servitude,  of  Superstition,  of  Ignorance,  and 
the  plane  of  Animalism.  It  spreads  next  below 


272  SEBALTHA. 

that  of  Equity,  and  upon  the  fapade  between 
them,  rules  of  civility,  of  courtesy,  and  of 
decency,  are  deeply  engraved  upon  tablets 
adorned  with  barrels  of  steel  and  crowned  with 
crossing  swords. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Hyman  laid  the  paper  on  his  desk 
and    looked    steadily  out    through   a 

**  ^ 

window  to  the  street  below,  as  if  an  enemy  had 
uprisen  there.  His  face  hardened  with  anger. 
Low  moans  escaped  from  the  woman,  who  still 
knelt  by  his  side  with  her  face  pressed  closely 
against  the  hands  upon  his  knee.  He  turned 
away  from  the  street — not  to  her,  but  to  the 
paper  on  his  desk.  While  he  yet  looked  at  it 
he  placed  his  right  hand  upon  her  shoulder. 
The  moans  increasing,  he  raised  her  head  from 
his  knee  and  drew  her  hands  away  from  her 
face.  There  were  no  tears  upon  it.  As  her 
sight  met  his  she  saw  kindliness  and  com 
passion  in  his  eyes.  Her  moaning  ceased.  He 
assisted  her  to  a  seat  beside  him,  which  he 
placed  so  that  the  light  fell  directly  upon  her 
face.  He  said: 

(273) 


274  SERALTHA. 

"  If  you  have  employed  those  methods  in  your 
relation  to  another  which  he  has  used  in  his 
behavior  toward  you,  lay  them  wholly  aside  dur 
ing  your  conference  with  me.  You  have  dwelt 
in  hypocrisy  more  than  two  years.  Your  integ 
rity  cannot  be  less  than  tainted  by  this  contact. 
E-eturn  to  rectitude,  and  tell  me  fully  of  your 
association  with  him  before  and  after  marriage, 
and  of  the  incidents,  letters  and  conversations, 
leading  up  to  your  consent  to  this  contract." 

She  told  him  all.  Two  hours  were  consumed 
in  the  recital.  She  had  spoken  without  blame 
to  any,  except  herself  and  her  inglorious  aspi 
rations. 

"  He  is  entirely  worthy  of  me  should  he  now 
publicly  acknowledge  me  as  a  wife,"  she  con 
tinued  impulsively.  "  I  am  his  wife !  Aid  me 
so  that  the  world  may  know! " 

He  sprang  to  his  feet  and  moved  back  and 
forth  before  his  desk  as  if  she  had  struck  him 
with  a  heavy  weapon.  His  face  gave  evidence 
of  contending  emotions.  When  he  sat  again  he 
asked,  composedly: 


SERALTHA.  275 

"  Why  are  you  inconstant  in  your  purpose? 
Why  did  you  come  to  me  asking  for  a  divorce, 
and  now  ask  my  aid  to  strengthen  your  bonds?" 

"  I  do  not  seek  a  divorce.  I  have  no  thought 
of  a  divorce."  She  answered  positively,  and 
astonishment  covered  his  face  as  she  continued: 
"  I  have  not  asked  for  a  divorce.  I  am  his  wife! 
The  years  for  secrecy  have  passed.  I  want  a 
recognition.  I  want  your  aid.  I  had  thought 
of  you,  but  had  no  thought  of  coming  to  you. 
Why  I  came  I  do  not  know.  I  only  know  that 
I  am  here,  and  that  before  I  came  my  husband 
distracted  me  with  threats  because  I  insisted 
upon  the  announcement  of  our  true  relations. 
I  have  spoken  truthfully.  Aid  me.  I  am  his 
wife !  I  am  his  wife !  I  will  inform  everybody 
— the  ladies  who  turn  their  faces  away  from  me; 
their  husbands,  who  look  disrespectfully  upon 
me;  the  men  who  gaze  at  me  when  I  go  upon 
the  street,  and  they  who  leer  at  me  when  I  drive. 
I  am  his  wife  I  I  am  the  wife  of  Chalmer  Grose ! 
Go  with  me  to  tell  them  this." 

Arising  from  her  seat,  she  seized  his  arm  and 


276  SEBALTHA. 

drew  him  toward  the  door.  His  full  strength 
was  required  to  resist  her,  and  his  full  powers 
of  persuasion  to  quiet  her. 

Of  all  the  indications  of  troubles  that  affect 
mankind,  those  revealing  the  presence  of  mental 
disorder  are  the  least  understood  by  people  who 
are  not  instructed  by  study  or  ample  observa 
tion.  What  Abel  Hyman  saw,  as  Seraltha  sat  be 
fore  him  obediently,  touched  a  congenial  quality 
in  his  own  being.  In  the  flashing  violet  of  her 
eyes  he  saw  determination,  and  in  her  deep  res 
piration  a  preparation  for  conflict.  When  she 
afterward  exclaimed:  "If  not  a  recognition, 
then  death ! "  his  soul  responded. 

That  which  did  exist  behind  these  demonstra 
tions  was  a  mind  groping  among  the  mists  that 
fall  and  rise  upon  the  border-land  of  lunacy. 
The  exclamation  foreboded  no  harm  to  Chalmer 
Grose.  She  saw  a  rift  through  the  mists  by 
which  she  might  escape. 

"  I  will  aid  you,"  he  said,  "  even  to  the  utmost 
extremity;  but  we  must  proceed  with  propriety, 
and  within  reason.  Your  declaration  of  the 


SEBALTHA.  277 

marriage  will  not  establish  a  belief  in  its  exist 
ence.  You  have  no  witness  to  your  marriage, 
and—" 

"Yes!"  she  exclaimed,  "Lethe  St.  Pier,  of 
whom  I  have  told  you." 

He  looked  at  her  an  instant  with  an  expres 
sion  of  pity,  and  then  resumed — "and  his  asser 
tions  will  outvalue  yours  in  their  influence  upon 
society.  He  may  deny  the  contract.  He  may 
even  assert  that  it  is  a  forgery,  and  large  sums 
of  money  will  then  be  required  of  you  to  estab 
lish  its  genuineness.  It  is  your  only  proof  of 
marriage.  Why  did  not  your  witness  sign  it?  " 

"  She  can  neither  read  nor  write,  but  she  saw 
our  signatures  made  to  the  contract,  and  saw  us 
go  away  together.  She  knew  that  we  were  to 
be  married,  and  arranged  flowers  for  us  in  the 
parlor.  It  was  a  marriage.  Is  it  not  legal? 
Lawyers  told  me  that  it  would  be.  I  consulted 
them  before  I  gave  consent." 

He  turned  away  from  her  and  again  looked 
out  through  the  window  toward  the  street  below. 
She  did  not  disturb  him,  but  respectfully  awaited 


278  SERALTHA. 

his  answer.  Her  patience  had  merged  into  won 
der,  and  this  into  disquiet  when  he  again  looked 
at  her. 

Unmindful  of  her  inquiry,  he  gave  directions 
for  her  future  procedure : 

"Go  directly  to  Chalmer  Grose,"  he  said  to 
her,  "  and  quietly  demand  of  him  to  come  with 
you  to  my  office  and  confirm  this  contract  to 
me,  and  those  who  may  he  waiting  here  as  wit 
nesses.     It  is  now  noon.     I  will  remain  here 
until  5  o'clock.     Should  he  refuse,  take  yourself 
and  your  wardrobe  from  the  Hotel  Havencourt 
and  seek  a  shelter  among  your  friends.   Remain 
with  them  until  he  requests  an  interview.     Re 
fuse  to  meet  him,  or  any  one  whom  he  may 
appoint,  until  he  shall  address  a  letter  to  you 
that  bears  an  acknowledgment  that  you  are  his 
wife.     Retain  this   letter — should  you   receive 
such — and  submit  it  to  me.     I  will  keep  your 
marriage  contract  in  a  secure  place.     It  might 
be  taken  from  you,  even  by  force.     Advise  me 
of  your  future  location.     Go  now;  I  must  give 
attention  to  other  affairs." 


SERALTHA.  279 

She  arose  and  approached  the  door.  As  she 
stood  upon  the  threshold  she  impulsively  said : 

"  He  will  not  allow  me  to  go  from  him.  He 
will  declare  me  to  be  his  wife." 

"  Seraltha,  fortify  yourself  against  hope,"  he 
responded;  "he  will  not." 

Abel  Hyman  did  not  give  attention  to  other 
affairs  during  the  afternoon,  neither  did  he  leave 
his  office.  He  sat  long  and  thoughtfully  after 
Seraltha  had  retired,  then  read  and  re-read  the 
marriage  contract.  He  afterward  arose  and  paced 
the  floor,  sometimes  in  thought,  sometimes  in 
agitation.  At  5  o'clock  he  stood  by  the  window 
looking  steadily  out  toward  a  fixed  point  in  the 
street  below. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

»PON  returning  to  her  rooms  in  the  Hotel 
Havencourt,  Seraltha  entered  her  dress 
ing-room  and  removed  her  hat  and  the  gown  of 
surah-silk.  Pushing  an  ottoman  before  an  easel- 
mirror,  she  sat  upon  it,  and,  uncoiling  her  hair, 
re-arranged  it  in  puffs  and  waves  above  her  fore 
head,  in  broad  plaits  beyond,  caught  in  inter 
twining  loops  that,  touching  her  ears,  spread  in 
lustrous  masses  between  them  and  downward 
upon  her  neck.  When  the  liberated  coils  fell 
from  their  restraints,  the  face  in  the  mirror  re 
flected  apprehension;  but  now  confidence  spread 
in  smiles  below  the  shining  waves,  and  faith 
shone  steadfastly  from  her  eyes.  Her  move 
ments  became  buoyant  and  her  expressions 
animated  as  she  made  other  preparations  for  a 
full  change  of  attire. 

From  the  wardrobe  she  brought  out  a  long 
silken  bag,  equal  in  length  to  her  height,  and 

(280) 


SERALTHA.  281 

adorned  along  its  seams  with  quilled  ribbons 
of  pink  and  blue,  and  upon  the  side  opening, 
with  buttons  of  pearl.  She  laid  it  upon  her 
dressing-table,  and,  loosening  the  buttons,  uncov 
ered  the  complete  attire  worn  by  her  on  the 
evening  before  her  departure  with  Chalmer 
Grose  from  the  house  on  Pine  street.  Delicate 
garments  of  agreeing  tints  nestled  within  the 
folds  of  the  gown  of  apple-blossom  plush,  and 
satin  slippers  with  golden  toes  showed  from 
among  them.  Disrobing  then,  she  began  to 
clothe  herself  from  the  silken  bag. 

She  soon  stood  before  the  easel-mirror  and 
smilingly  began  the  final  adornment.  She  held 
up  the  pearl  necklace,  then,  drawing  it  to  a  cir 
cle,  she  moved  it  to  and  fro,  watching  the  con 
stant  lustre.  Her  lips  moved  as  if  she  whis 
pered  to  it. 

She  drew  the  necklace  about  her  throat,  and, 
passing  through  other  rooms  to  the  parlor  of 
Chalmer  Grose,  she  stood  before  him,  a  re-ap 
pearance  of  his  bride.  He  had  just  returned 
from  his  noon-day  luncheon,  and,  notwithstand- 


282  SEBALTHA. 

ing  the  quarrel  of  the  morning,  he  seemed  in 
excellent  spirits.  From  the  date  of  the  mar 
riage  contract  to  that  upon  which  she  demanded 
full  recognition  of  their  marriage  relations,  he 
had  maintained  a  pleasant  demeanor  toward 
Seraltha;  but  the  love,  for  which  she  hoped,  he 
had  never  manifested.  He  did  not  even  pre 
tend  this  by  the  use  of  endearing  words,  although 
she  had  persevered  with  act  and  language  to 
verify  the  maxim,  "  Love  is  love's  reward." 

A  condition  of  mind  controlled  his  deport 
ment  toward  her  of  which  she  had  no  compre 
hension.  His  soul  was  not  masculine,  neither 
was  it  feminine.  He  and  the  many  of  his  type 
are  unaffected  by  woman's  words  or  by  her 
tears,  by  her  devotion,  or  by  her  love.  They 
look  upon  her  as  a  thing  of  utility,  and  coldly  cal 
culate  their  speech  to  her,  except  when  in  revile- 
ment.  He  was  incapable  of  love  for  a  woman, 
yet  he  wished  to  retain  Seraltha  to  himself. 
He  had  heard  her  anguished  words  of  the  morn 
ing  ringing  through  the  corridors,  and  knew  of 
her  conference  with  Mrs.  Garrison,  for  whom  ho 


SERALTHA.  283 

fostered  an  extreme  hatred.  He  also  knew  of 
their  departure  from  the  hotel  in  company,  and 
of  Seraltha's  protracted  absence. 

A  crisis  had  arrived.  He  had  given  the 
hours  of  her  absence  to  thought  and  a  consulta 
tion  with  Hamilton  Tucker  and  Chance  Neely, 
whom  he  summoned  to  his  parlor.  Afterward 
he  admitted  them  to  Seraltha's  rooms,  where 
they  wrote  in  memorandum  books  while  pass 
ing  through  and  making  observations  within 
them.  A  half  hour  after  they  had  retired 
Chance  Neely  returned  to  her  rooms,  and  re 
mained  within  them  several  moments  alone. 
What  he  then  accomplished  he  afterward  dis 
closed  to  Chalmer  Grose,  who  smiled  approval. 
He  also  smiled  as  if  already  a  conquerer  when 
Seraltha  stood  before  him,  arrayed  in  her  bridal 
attire. 

"I  compliment  myself,"  he  said,  after  a  full 
survey  of  her,  "  because  you  are  more  charming 
now  than  upon  the  night  when  I  clasped  the 
pearl  necklace  in  place.  Your  beauty  rivaled  it 
then;  now  the  pearls  are  in  submission.  A 


284  SEEALTHA. 

quiet  life  agrees  with  you.  You  would  be  un 
wise  to  disturb  it.  The  greatest  disappoint 
ments  of  life  are  brought  about  by  not  letting 
well-enough  alone.  Be  consistent  with  your 
situation.  Will  you  be  seated?" 

He  arose,  and,  assisting  her  to  the  chair  that 
he  had  occupied,  he  walked  up  and  down  before 
her  as  he  continued  his  speech:  "  It  is  a  pleas 
ant  situation — far  above  that  in  which  you  were 
before  you  came  to  me.  You  are  in  luxury,  and 
are  treated  kindly — when  you  do  not  annoy  me 
with  demands.  You  live  at  ease,  and  may 
continue  to  do  so.  You  have  all  the  pleasures 
of  life,  except  the  unsubstantial  pleasure  of 
society,  which  now  seems  to  be  the  object  of 
your  ambition  and  " — 

"  This  is  not  my  ambition,"  she  interrupted 
calmly,  "  I  will  avoid  society  all  my  life,  and 
devote  myself  to  you  as  I  have  done,  if  you  will 
go  with  me  and  acknowledge  me  to  be  your 
wife,  so  that  the  ladies  on  this  floor,  and  their 
husbands,  the  men  in  the  office  and  upon  the 
streets,  will  no  longer  dishonor  me.  I  ask  the 


SEBALTHA.  285 

honor  that  you  have  promised  me — nothing 
more." 

A  continuation  of  his  interrupted  thought 
would  be  of  no  avail  against  an  impulse  of 
honor  freed  from  social  ambition.  He  lapsed 
into  sullenness,  scowling  as  he  walked  back 
ward  and  forward  before  her  in  silence.  He 
could  construct  no  argument  against  her  wishes, 
and  command  was  the  only  resource  remaining. 
Her  eyes  followed  him  as  he  walked,  and  calm 
determination  possessed  her  face  when  he  went 
to  the  inner  door  of  his  parlor,  and,  opening  it, 
sternly  said: 

"  Go  to  your  rooms,  and  be  content  that  you 
enjoy  them  upon  my  terms:  the  ceasing  of  your 
importunities,  and  the  avoidance  of  Mrs.  August 
Garrison  and  her  friends." 

Her  immediate  and  silent  obedience  appeared 
to  him  as  a  submission.  The  smile  that  greeted 
her  entrance  to  his  parlor  returned.  It  lingered 
while  he  made  preparations  for  a  drive  to  the 
Cliff",  in  company  with  friends  and  brother  offi 
cers  of  the  Mining  Association.  Even  while 


286  SERALTHA. 

there,  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  champagne  din 
ner,  the  smile  returned  and  aided  the  wine  in 
spreading  the  jest  around  the  table.  It  mingled 
pleasantly  with  a  flush  upon  his  face  when  he 
stood  in  his  dressing-room  at  a  late  hour  and 
made  preparations  for  retiring.  It  vanished 
when  he  entered  Seraltha's  room  and  found  it 
tenantless.  A  cloud  of  anger  came  in  its  place 
— like  that  upon  his  face  while  crushing  her  fan 
in  the  mountain  city — when  he  discovered  that 
her  clothing  was  gone. 

He  lighted  the  gas  jets  throughout  her  rooms 
and  walked  about  with  increasing  evidences  of 
anger  amidst  the  silence  of  the  unexpected. 
After  his  anger  had  abated,  he  began  upon  an 
examination  within  the  recesses  of  bureaus,  chif 
foniers,  and  the  wardrobe  closet  of  Seraltha's 
dressing-room.  During  his  search,  he  found 
three  cards  in  various  places,  which  he  read  and 
returned  to  the  places  where  he  had  found  them. 
Upon  one  side  the  cards  read,  in  printed  form, 
"  The  Calaveras,"  also  its  number  upon  Market 
and  the  diverging  street.  Upon  the  other  side 


SEBALTHA.  287 

the  name  Monroe  Chase  appeared,  in  connec 
tion  with  dates  that  differed  upon  each  card. 
These  dates  corresponded  with  those  upon  which 
Chalmer  Grose  had  been  absent  from  the  city. 

During  the  following  day  Chance  Neely  en 
tered  Seraltha's  rooms  from  the  parlor  of  Chal 
mer  Grose.  He  made  examination  among  fur 
niture,  as  Chalmer  Grose  had  done,  and,  finding 
the  cards,  he  placed  them  within  an  envelope, 
which  he  put  into  an  inner  pocket. 

Upon  the  evening  ensuing,  "  The  Three  "  sat 
long  in  conference  around  the  table  in  one  of 
the  basement  rooms  of  "  The  Calaveras,"  the 
door  and  area  windows  being  tightly  closed, 
and  the  conversation  low  in  tone. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

9 

£OOD  investments  in  city  lots  had  made 
Lethe  St.  Pier  a  rich  woman.  These 
increasing  rapidly  in  value,  and  her  rentals  in 
proportion,  she  came  into  the  enjoyment  of  a 
large  income  from  them.  The  house  and  grounds 
on  Pine  street  were  kept  in  perfect  order,  and 
her  occupations  were  reduced  to  their  care  and 
the  practice  of  pyromancy.  At  the  time  of  the 
events  last  narrated,  she  had  attained  to  the 
height  of  her  success.  Many  people  of  wealth 
— and  some  of  wisdom,  otherwise — called  upon 
her  for  advice,  paid  her  liberally  for  it,  and 
acted  upon  it.  These  visitors  never  knew  of 
her  methods,  because  she  held  the  consultations 
in  the  parlors,  afterward  retiring  to  the  dark 
room  by  the  furnace  to  solve  her  divinations. 
These  completed,  she  would  return  to  the  wait 
ing  visitor  and  impressively  announce  her 
prophesies.  She  met  her  visitors  richly  dressed, 

(288) 


SEBALTHA.  289 

and  adorned  with  heavy  gold  ornaments,  but 
while  she  sat  in  the  mutilated  cane-seated  chair 
before  the  oil  lamp,  she  wore  a  gown  of  scarlet. 

While  in  seclusion,  Seraltha  had  made  Lethe 
frequent  visits.  Her  mother — to  whom  Chal- 
mer  Grose  had  granted  a  comfortable  allowance 
for  support — occasionally  met  her  there,  al 
though  feeling  that  she  lived  in  dishonor  until 
Seraltha  read  the  marriage  contract  to  her,  at 
the  expiration  of  the  time  for  which  she  had 
promised  secrecy.  Seraltha  had  made  none  of 
these  visits  as  a  patroness  of  Lethe's  arts,  yet, 
through  association,  and  observation  of  visits 
by  people  of  gentility,  she  held  to  a  belief  in 
her  pretended  skill  in  divination.  The  knowl 
edge  of  Lethe's  increasing  love  for  her  gave  aid 
to  this  effect. 

This  love  now  approached  the  fierceness  that 
strikes  to  kill  the  one  who  menaces  the  slightest 
injury  to  its  object;  and  when  the  carriage  that 
bore  Seraltha  and  her  trunks  from  the  Hotel 
Havencourt  had  turned  from  the  causeway,  and 
halted  at  the  rear  porch  of  her  house,  she  min- 


290  SERALTHA. 

gled  endearing  sentences  for  Seraltha  with  fierce 
denunciations  of  Chalmer  Grose.  As  she  sup 
ported  Seraltha  toward  the  gorgeously  furnished 
chamber,  and  felt  her  form  trembling,  denunci 
ation  strengthened.  At  the  bedside  Lethe  hast 
ily  removed  Seraltha's  hat  and  wraps,  and,  lift 
ing  her  as  she  might  a  child,  laid  her  gently 
upon  the  bed.  When  she  drew  away  from  her 
and  stood  upright,  she  saw  a  wildness  coming 
over  the  face  upon  the  pillow,  and  violet  gleams 
flashing  from  the  eyes. 

"  Doan  yoh  do  that! "  she  exclaimed.  "  Doan 
yoh  count  dem  'lebbens !  Dey's  full  ob  knives, 
en  day  cut  toh  dah  blood  in  mah  heart.  Chile ! 
Honey!  Doan  do  dat!  " 

"One — two — three!  "  came  from  the  pillow. 

"  Stop,  Chile !  I'se  gwiiie  toh  kiss  dem  'leb 
bens  off  yoh  lips." 

"  Four  —  five  —  six !  "  intoned  with  Lethe's 
words.  She  bent  over  the  pillow  and  pressed 
her  lips  against  Seraltha's. 

"Seven — eight — nine!"  struggled  out,  their 
measures  broken  by  Lethe's  kisses. 


SEKALTHA.  291 

A  smile  came  upon  Seraltha's  face  and  her 
lips  ceased  to  move. 

" Chile!  Chile!  dah  lebbens  gone!  Look  on 
me — Lethe  St.  Pier.  Yoh's  in  yoh  own  home. 
Yoh's  smilin'!  I'se  thankful,  en  dah  good 
Lawd's  a  knowin'  ob  it;  I'se  thankful.  Come 
closer  toh  me." 

She  sat  upon  the  bed,  and,  raising  Seraltha's 
head  from  the  pillow,  she  rested  it  upon  her 
lap.  Tears  glistened  on  the  bosom  of  her  silken 
gown. 

Information  in  detail  of  Seraltha's  depart 
ure  from  the  Hotel  Havencourt  spread  upon 
a  circle,  the  centre  of  which  was  the  office 
of  the  hotel,  and  its  circumference  the  widening 
limits  of  scandal.  Long  before  this  event  her 
name  had  been  whispered  toward  these  limits. 
Through  a  long  residence  in  the  city  the  social 
methods  of  Chalmer  Grose  had  become  widely 
known  as  those  of  one  whose  conduct  toward 
women  was  pledged  to  a  special  evil — pledged 
by  a  compact  that  dishonor  had  made  with 
desire  in  the  days  of  his  youth.  All  women  to 


292  SEBALTHA. 

whom  he  gave  social  companionship,  and  who 
continued  in  tolerance  of  his  gallantry,  "became 
like  unto  him  in  reputation.  This  fell  with 
greatest  force  upon  Seraltha,  because  her  beauty, 
associated  with  decorous  behavior,  drew  atten 
tion  from  the  multitude,  who  marveled  to  know 
that  apparent  chastity  dwelt  in  a  chamber  of 
gold,  tapestried  with  scarlet. 

Her  name  was  now  notorious.  Reporters  for 
the  papers  knew  of  her  withdrawal  from  Chal- 
mer  Grose  within  a  day  thereafter,  (Nat  Rapps 
received  his  information  within  the  hour),  and 
one  wrote  a  column  of  mingled  facts  and  fancies 
unaccompanied  by  names  or  indications  of 
locality.  His  paper  published  it  so  that  all  who 
read  could  comprehend  the  meaning. 

On  the  third  day  after  the  arrival  of  Seraltha 
at  the  house  on  Pine  street,  and  in  the  early 
evening,  a  caller  rang  the  door-bell,  who  dis 
played  a  smiling  face  and  an  attire  touching 
the  extreme  of  fashion,  when  Lethe  St.  Pier 
opened  the  door  and  the  light  from  the  hallway 
shone  full  upon  him. 


SERALTHA.  293 

"  I  have  got  a  message,"  he  said,  in  response 
to  her  salutation.  "It  is  for  the  lady  in  this 
house." 

"  There  are  two  ladies  in  this  house,  sir. 
Which  one  is  the  message  for?"  Lethe  ad 
vanced  toward  him  in  full  occupancy  of  the 
doorway. 

"  It  is  for  the — the  younger  one.  It  is  very 
important,"  he  responded. 

"  Give  me  the  message  then,  sir,  and  come  to 
the  reception-room." 

She  moved  aside  to  allow  an  entrance,  but  he 
looked  down  the  hallway  to  the  darkness  beyond 
the  opened  door  of  the  area  under  the  rear  porch, 
and  receded  a  step.  He  said: 

"  It  is  not  in  writing.  It  is  a  personal  mes 
sage.  I  will  wait  here  until  she  comes  to  me." 

A  suppressed  anger  had  appeared  in  Lethe's 
words  when  she  asked  him  for  the  message, 
which  now  appeared  strongly  in  her  face  as  she 
returned  to  her  former  position  in  the  doorway. 

"  Den  yoh  done  stay  dar  dah  whole  year,  en 
tell  dah  message  toh  dah  birds.  Whar's  yoh 


294  SEBALTHA. 

broten'  up — wantin'  to  talk  toh  dah  lady  in 
dah  doh?" 

The  caller  stepped  hastily  off  the  landing. 
He  halted  from  his  purpose  of  descending  the 
granite  stairway  to  the  street  as  she  questioned : 

"  Who's  dah  name  ob  dah  lady  yoh's  wantin' 
toh  talk  toh  in  dar  doh?  " 

"  Seraltha,"  answered  the  caller,  turning  and 
retracing  a  step. 

"Who's  dah  full  name?  Tell  me  dat."  She 
stepped  out  of  the  doorway  to  the  landing. 

"  Seraltha  Ames,"  announced  the  caller,  hesi 
tatingly,  and  nervously  twirling  his  hat. 

"Who's  else?"  demanded  Lethe,  stepping 
down  from  the  landing  to  the  walk. 

The  caller  making  no  response,  she  continued : 

"  Mrs.  Chalmer  Grose  is  dah  name  ob  dah 
lady  here,  en  she  doan  want  messages  foh  Seral 
tha  Ames,  en  she  doan  want  dem  foh  Seraltha. 
Dose  folks  done  gone  outen  'zistence.  She's 
Massa  Chalmer  Grose's  wife,  en  Massa  Chalmer 
Grose  doan  want  dah  yuther  folks  to  know  dat. 
Yoh  message  wants  Seraltha  Ames  toh  come 


SERALTHA.  295 

toh  Chalmer  Grose,  en  dah's  no  lady  by  dat 
name  to  come  toh  him."  Her  anger  gave  place 
to  earnestness:  "Tell  Chalmer  Grose  Lethe  St. 
Pier's  message:  'Mrs.  Chalmer  Grose  will  live 
in  Lethe  St.  Pier's  house  until  he  says,  "Mrs. 
Chalmer  Grose,  come  back  to  me," '  and  he 
must  write  the  words,  and  not  send  messages 
by  folks  who  don't  know  the  lady's  name." 

The  caller  went  away.  Meeting  Chance  Neely 
on  a  near  street  corner  he  recited  what  he  had 
said  and  heard.  Chance  Neely,  by  the  aid  of  a 
street  light,  wrote  this  in  a  memorandum  book, 
together  with  the  day  and  date  of  occurrence. 
The  caller  was  Monroe  Chase,  of  "  The  Calave- 
ras." 

An  hour  later  two  physicians  stood  at  the 
bedside  of  Chalmer  Grose  in  the  chamber  of 
his  suite.  The  odor  of  valerian  and  other  drugs 
oppressed  the  air  of  the  rooms,  and  sounds  of 
groaning,  with  occasional  labored  breathing, 
broke  upon  their  stillness.  One  physician  bent 
over  the  bed,  and,  cutting  away  inner  garments 
from  the  chest  of  the  patient,  he  pressed  his  ear 


296  SERALTHA. 

closely  over  the  heart.  His  associate  adminis 
tered  medicine  in  frequent  doses  through  a  tube. 
Chalmer  Grose  was  insensible. 

Since  his  recovery  from  the  injuries  received 
at  the  Cascades,  he  had  been  conscious  of  an 
irregularity  in  the  action  of  his  heart,  although 
the  symptoms  were  usually  slight  and  of  short 
duration.  Upon  one  occasion,  within  a  year 
after  his  injury,  and  during  a  dispute  over  min 
ing  affairs,  he  had  fallen  from  his  chair.  He 
then  received  the  attention  of  a  physician,  who 
afterward  advised  the  avoidance  of  all  things 
tending  to  excite  the  sufferer. 

Anger  being  the  emotion  most  common  to 
him,  Chalmer  Grose  began  a  discipline  for  it 
that  resulted  in  a  control  which  allowed  revile- 
ment  in  a  tranquil  expression ;  but  when  Chance 
Neely  came  to  him,  after  the  interview  with 
Monroe  Chase,  and  reported  a  failure  of  the 
scheme  to  communicate  with  Seraltha  without 
recourse  to  correspondence  by  letter  or  by  a 
call  in  person,  he  lost  all  self-control  in  anger 
toward  Lethe  St.  Pier.  He  interrupted  Chance 


SEBALTHA.  297 

Neely  in  the  midst  of  his  report,  and  walked 
about  the  parlor  in  loud  abuse  of  her.  Later, 
he  calmed  sufficiently  to  hear  the  conclusion. 
When  Chance  Neely  began  upon  Lethe's  mes 
sage  he  stopped  and  stood  before  him  to  the 
end.  Chance  Neely  looked  upward  from 
his  memorandum,  when  he  had  finished,  and 
saw  a  face  ghastly  in  its  whiteness,  that 
in  an  instant  changed  to  scarlet.  The  form 
below  it  tottered,  and  then  with  an  effort  re 
gained  its  energy.  Chalmer  Grose  turned  and 
walked  rapidly  toward  his  chamber  door.  He 
fell  prone  and  silent  across  the  threshold. 
Chance  Neely  hastened  to  the  hotel  office, 
whence  his  summons  was  sent  to  physicians, 
who,  after  arrival  and  an  examination,  raised 
the  prostrate  man  from  the  floor  and  placed  him 
upon  the  bed. 

The  physicians  were  successful  in  their  efforts. 
At  midnight,  Chalmer  Grose  slept  peacefully, 
his  heart  beating  regularly.  When  he  had 
revived,  he  requested  that  Hamilton  Tucker  be 
called  to  remain  with  him  until  morning. 


298  SERALTHA. 

Chance  Neely,  acting  as  messenger,  went  directly 
to  "The  Calaveras,"  where  he  found  Hamilton 
Tucker  in  conversation  with  Monroe  Chase,  and 
in  possession  of  facts  connected  with  the  call  at 
the  house  on  Pine  street.  During  the  time  in 
which  they  walked  together  to  the  Hotel  Haven- 
court,  Chance  Neely  related  what  had  happened 
in  the  rooms  of  Chalmer  Grose,  so  that  upon 
his  arrival  there  Hamilton  Tucker  fully  under 
stood  the  situation. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

a  late  hour  the  next  morning,  Chal- 
mer  Grose  awoke  as  one  from  a  re 
freshing  sleep,  bearing  no  traces  of  the  ordeal 
through  which  he  had  passed.  He  dressed 
hastily,  and  wrote  upon  a  sheet  of  note  paper, 
which  he  enclosed  in  an  envelope,  leaving  it 
unsealed. 

"  Return  this  to  me,"  he  said  to  Hamilton 
Tucker,  "together  with  a  copy,  at  twelve  o'clock 
to-day." 

Hamilton.  Tucker  went  away  and  returned  at 
the  appointed  time,  bringing  the  document  and 
a  copy.  Chalmer  Grose  carefully  compared  the 
writing,  which  appeared  as  if  written  by  the 
same  hand.  These  read: 

"  FRIDAY. 

"  MY  DEAR  WIFE: — 

"  While  I  wish  your  visit  to  be  pro 
longed  to  the  extent  of  your  pleasure,  I  am  now 

(299) 


300  SEEALTHA. 

hoping  that  after  these  several  days  of  absence 
you  may  be  in  pleasant  anticipation  of  an  early 
return  to  me. 

"  I  wish  that  you  may  be  with  me  before 
Tuesday  next.  We  will  visit  Monterey  together 
on  that  day,  and  remain  there  for  an  undecided 
time.  This  will  be  pleasant  to  you,  and  a  bene 
fit  to  my  health. 

"  I  have  not  been  in  the  best  of  spirits  while 
you  have  been  absent  from  me.     Your  presence 
is  necessary  to  my  happiness. 
"  Yours, 

"  CHALMER.  GROSE." 

Chalmer  Grose  put  the  copy  of  this  letter  into 
the  envelope  and  gave  it  to  Hamilton  Tucker 
with  these  instructions: 

"  Find  a  boy — one  old  enough,  and  who  knows 
enough  to  do  and  say  what  he  is  told.  Go  with 
him  until  you  get  within  sight  of  the  house. 
Give  him  the  letter.  Show  him  where  to  go. 
Tell  him  to  ring  the  door-bell.  Lethe  St.  Pier 
will  come  to  the  door.  Keep  yourself  away 
from  her  sight.  Tell  the  boy  to  say,  '  Madam, 
please  give  this  to  Mrs.  Grose.'  He  is  then  to 


SEBALTHA.  301 

put  it  in  her  hand,  turn  and  walk  briskly  away. 
Keep  on  walking.  If  she  calls  after  him,  pay 
no  attention.  Give  him  gold.  Tell  him  you 
will,  before  he  starts  out,  if  he  obeys  instruc 
tions." 

That  afternoon  a  boy  rang  the  door-bell  of  the 
house  on  Pine  street,  to  which  Lethe  St.  Pier 
responded.  His  manner  and  speech  were  in 
full  accord  with  those  desired  by  Chalmer 
Grose.  She  took  the  letter  and  before  she  could 
make  an  inquiry  regarding  its  author,  he  was 
well  upon  his  way  down  the  stairway.  She 
called  to  him,  but  he  walked  briskly  on  toward 
the  place  where  Hamilton  Tucker  awaited  him. 

After  he  had  disappeared,  Lethe  turned  the 
letter  in  her  hands,  looking  upon  it  suspiciously. 
When  she  closed  the  door,  she  had  begun  a 
soliloquy: 

"  Dah  boy  says,  '  Madam/  Dat's  polite.  Dah 
boy  says,  '  Dis  letter's  foh  Missis  Grose.'  Dah 
boy  knows  dah  name  on  dah  letter.  If  dah 
letter's  froh  Chalmer  Grose,  dah's  no  politeness 
if  he  doan  write  any  moh  on  dah  outside  dan 


302  SERALTHA. 

'  Missis  Grose/  Dah  boy's  polite — he  doan  hear 
me  when  I  say,  '  Come  back.'  If  dah's  any 
moh  on  dah  letter  'cept  '  Missis  Grose,'  dah 
boy's  done  gwine  toh  read  it  dat  way.  Chalmer 
Grose  doan  give  politeness  toh  Missis  Chalmer 
Grose." 

She  went  into  the  reception  room  and  sat 
before  a  table.  Bending  forward  and  holding 
the  letter  so  that  she  might  turn  it  about,  she 
continued  in  soliloquy: 

"En  dah's  no  love  talk  inside  dah  letter. 
Mebbe  he  says  '  Missis  Chalmer  Grose  '  inside 
dah  letter,  but  he  doan  say,  'Missis  Chalmer 
Grose,  I  loves  yoh.'  How  I  knows  dat?  He 
doan  stick  dah  leaf  down  so  dah  boy  couldn't 
read  inside.  Nobuddy  says  love  talk  en  doan 
stick  dah  leaf  down.  Nobuddy  wants  dah  boy 
toh  read  love  talk,  if  'tis  toh  dah  wife.  If  dah's 
love  in  dar,  den  dah  paper  all  covered  wiv  talk 
— mebbe  crossways.  I'se  gwine  toh  fine  dat  out, 
foh  shuah." 

She  drew  the  letter  from  its  envelope  and 
examined  the  writing,  and  looked  among  the 


SERALTHA.  303 

blank  pages.  The  writing  was  upon  the  first 
page,  and  covered  one-half  the  surface. 

"  One — two — three — four  places  foh  writin', 
en  he  doan  speak  only  half  a  one.  No  love  talk 
in  dis  letter,  suah  'nuff.  Mebbe  dis  say,  '  Missis 
Chalmer  Grose,  come  back  toh  me,'  but  he  doan 
love  her — jes'  wants  her." 

She  replaced  the  letter  within  its  envelope 
and  sat  long  in  thought.  A  half  hour  had 
passed  when  she  sprang  to  her  feet,  exclaiming: 

"Dah  lovely  Chile!  He's  had  her  toh  his 
self  mos'  three  years,  en  he  doan  love  her.  If 
dah  letter  says :  '  Missis  Chalmer  Grose,  come 
toh  me,'  en  dah  chile  wants  toh,  den  I'se  gwine 
toh  fine'  a  charm  foh  her  dat'll  make  Chalmer 
Grose  love  her.  Dah  charm  got  toh  be  sumfin' 
most  powerful.  I  doan  know,  en  no  yuther 
mortal  folks  knows,  what's  gwine  to  git  love 
intoh  Chalmer  Grose.  I'se  gwine  toh  ask  dem 
spirits,  dis  very  night,  en  if  dey  don't  know,  den 
dah  poor  chile  gwine  toh  live  'thout  love  all  her 
bohn  days.  I'se  gwine  to  tell  dem  spirits  dey 


304  SEBALTHA. 

urns'  fine  out  dah  charm,  dis  night,  so  dah  chile 
can  hab  it  to  take  wiv  her  toh  him." 

Lethe  then  went  to  the  parlor  floor  and  found 
Serai tha  seated  within  a  veranda,  from  which 
she  obtained  a  view  of  the  western  limits  of  the 
city  and  of  the  cemetery  on  the  sandy  hills 
beyond.  Lethe  gave  her  the  letter,  and,  sitting 
in  a  chair  near  by,  remained  in  silence  while 
she  read  it.  Seraltha  looked  out  toward  the 
western  hills  in  after-thought.  She  then  folded 
the  letter  and  returned  it  to  the  envelope. 
It  afterward  slipped  from  her  hand  and  fell 
unnoticed  by  her  to  the  floor.  Her  sight  had 
become  fixed  upon  a  point  in  the  distance. 

Lethe  took  the  letter  from  the  floor  and  placed 
it  upon  Seraltha's  lap,  at  the  same  time  stand 
ing  before  her  and  obstructing  her  sight.  Very 
tenderly  she  said: 

"  What's  dah  letter  sayin',  honey,  dat  yoh 
doan  speak,  but  look  straight  out  dar  'zif  yoh 
see  somefin  'twasn't  in  dah  letter,  en  yoh  nebber 
gwine  toh  git  tired  lookin'  at  it?" 

Seraltha  made  no  answer,  and  her  sight  con- 


SEUALTHA.  305 

tinued  steadily  in  the  same  direction  that  it 
held  while  being  unobstructed.  Lethe  pressed 
closer,  and,  bending  near  to  Seraltha,  said,  with 
increasing  tenderness: 

"  Lethe  St.  Pier  knows  what  wasn't  in  dah 
letter,  chile.  'Twasn't  love,  en  yoh's  nebber 
gwine  toh  find  it  'twil  somefin'  powerful  is  done 
toh  chawm  dah  love  into  Chalmer  Grose.  Dis 
dah  matter  all  dis  time — he  doan  love  yoh — -jes 
wants  yoh.  I'se  gwine  toh  fine  out  dak  chawm 
toh  make  Chalmer  Grose  love  yoh  jes  dah  same 
as  he  wants  you.  Duz  dah  letter  say,  'Mrs. 
Chalmer  Grose,  come  toh  me?  '  Chile!  Speak 
toh  me.  Yoh's  try  in' toh  look  frew  me.  What's 
dat  yoh's  lookin'  at,  way  out  dar  frew  me,  en 
doan  fine  in  dah  letter?  " 

"The  cemetery!" 

Lethe  sprung  away  from  before  Seraltha  when 
she  uttered  these  words,  exclaiming: 

"Dah  mercy,  chile!  Duz  yoh  see  dah  ceme 
tery  frew  me  ?  What's  dah  cemetery  showin' 
toh  yoh  dat  yoh  doan  fine  in  dah  letter?  Doan 


306  SEBALTHA. 

dah  letter  say,    '  Missis    Chalmer    Grose,  come 
toh  me?" 

"  It  says,  '  My  dear  wife,  I  want  you  with  me.' ' 
The    answer   showed   a   comprehension  of  the 
spirit  of  the  letter. 

Dat's  what  I  say,"  responded  Lethe,  "  when  I 
see  dah  writin'  doan  speak  only  half  a  place — 
jes'  wants  yoh.  '  My  dear  wife ! '  Dat  means  all 
dah  same  as  Missis  Chalmer  Grose.  '  My  dear' ! 
Dat's  a  fact,  Chalmer  Grose  knows  how  toh 
speak  two  love  words.  If  dey  doan  mean  nuffin 
more  dan  '  I  want  yoh/  dey  done  make  a  little 
hole  down  toh  his  heart,  en  a  powerful  chawm 
gwine  toh  fill  dah  heart  up  frew  dah  hole. 
Yoh's  lookin'  at  dah  cemetery  en  thinkin'  ceme 
tery  whilst  I'se  lookin'  at  yoh  en  thinkin' 
chawm  for  toh  make  Chalmer  Grose  love  yoh. 
Dah  chawm  is  somewhar  in  dah  cemetery !  Dah 
spirits  gwine  toh  fine  it  foh  yoh  dis  night. 
Come  toh  dah  parlor." 

Lethe  arranged  a  seat  in  the  parlor  for  Seral- 
tha,  and,  sitting  before  her,  unfolded  a  scheme 
to  bring  Chalmer  Grose  into  the  bondage  of  love. 


SERALTHA.  307 

"  Honey,  dah  good  Lawd's  done  give  ebbery- 
buddy  dar  love  when  dey's  children,  en  dey  git 
so  much  dey  can't  keer  foh  it  by  dernselves— 
mus'  have  somebuddy  toh  help  dem.  Some  ob 
dem  children  grows,  en  dey  keep  growin',  en 
doan  have  nobuddy  toh  help  dem  keer  foh  dah 
love.  Dey  keep  growin'  twil  dey  grow  old,  en 
den  dey  see  somebuddy  dey  wants  toh  help  keer 
for  dah  love,  en  dey  looks  'round  foh  dah  love, 
en  dey  doan  fine  it.  It's  done  got  out  en 
slipped  away,  en  dey's  got  no  love  wiv  dem 
toh  help  keer  foh. 

"  But  it's  somewhar.  Dah  good  Lawd  breaves 
intoh  it  when  he  gives,  en  it  doan  nebber  gwine 
toh  die.  It's  a  chile  spirit,  playin'  wiv  dah 
yuther  childun  somewhar  dat  dey's  keered  foh. 
It's  happy  dar,  en  if  it  ebber  comes  back  it's 
got  toh  be  chawmed  back,  en  dah  chawm  dat's 
gwine  toh  bring  one  of  dem  spirit  love-childun 
back  dah  yuther  childun  ain't  gwine  toh  pay  no 
'tention  toh.  I  doan  know,  en  dey's  no  folks 
knows  what  chawm's  gwine  toh  bring  back  dah 
love-chile  toh  Chalmer  Grose.  I  know  whar 


308  SERALTHA. 

dah  chawm  is.  It's  in  dah  cemetery.  It's  a 
powerful  charm — it  rims'  be  foh  toh  bring  back 
dah  love  toh  Chalmer  Grose.  Dah  spirits  dah 
only  ones  dat  knows  jes'  what  it  is,  en  I'se 
gwine  toh  talk  wiv  dem  spirits  all  night,  twil 
dey  tell  me.  When  dah  spirits  tell  me  whar 
dah  chawn  is  mebbe  dey'll  say,  '  Lethe  St.  Pier, 
yoh  gwine  toh  be  dah  one  toh  git  dah  chawm/ 
Mebbe  dey'll  say,  '  Missis  Chalmer  Grose  dah 
one'.  If  dey  say  dat,  chile,  keep  away  dah 
skeer — it  spiles  dah  chawm.  Mebbe  dey'll  say, 
'  Lethe  St.  Pier,  yoh  go  long  wiv  her'.  If  dey 
say  dat,  den  dah  skeer  gwine  to  keep  'way  froh 
you — skeer  nebber  comes  'round  Lethe  St.  Pier. 
Dis  is  'stressin'  foh  mah  honey,  but  she  mus' 
have  dah  chawm.  Cemetery  chawms  alluz  dah 
mos'  powerful." 

But  little  persuasion  was  required  by  Lethe 
to  obtain  the  consent  of  Seraltha  to  this  pro 
cedure,  and  also  a  promise  from  her  to  obey  the 
commands  of  the  spirits. 

Seraltha  retired  early  to  her  chamber  with  a 
new  hope  glimmering  through  the  darkness  of 


8EBALTHA.  309 

disappointment  and  misfortune.  An  hour 
afterward,  Lethe  St.  Pier  went  to  the  door,  and, 
silently  opening  it,  looked  within.  The  sound 
of  measured  breathing  informed  her  that  Seral- 
tha  slept,  and,  entering  the  chamber,  she  stood 
at  the  bedside  and  looked  intently  upon  her 
face.  A  faint  tinted  light  flickered  over  it  from 
the  half- suppressed  gas  jets  burning  in  crimson 
globes  on  the  chandelier. 

Lethe  was  now  robed  in  her  scarlet  gown, 
that  hung  in  unbroken  folds  from  her  shoulders 
to  the  floor,  intensified  in  hue  by  the  contrast 
of  a  kerchief  turban  of  yellow  and  black,  and 
of  a  white  counterpane  on  Seraltha's  bed. 
Raising  her  hands  to  the  level  of  her  face  she 
extended  her  arms  and  passed  them  over  Seral 
tha's  form  in  repeated  serpentine  movements. 
She  then  stepped  back  and  waved  them  in 
imitation  of  the  wings  of  birds.  Continuing 
this  movement,  she  turned  and  looked  steadily 
through  a  window  into  the  darkness  toward  the 
distant  cemetery.  Her  hands  then  dropped 
suddenly  to  her  side,  and,  bending  far  forward, 


310  SERALTHA. 

she  peered  downward  as  if  searching  the  depth 
of  a  chasm  opening  at  her  feet. 

Retiring  from  the  chamber,  Lethe  went  to 
the  dark  room  by  the  furnace  and  sat  in  the 
old  cane-seated  chair  before  the  oil  lamp. 
Bending  forward,  and  with  her  hands  clasped 
beyond  it,  she  gazed  intently  into  the  flame. 
Hours  elapsed,  while  stillness  pervaded  the 
house  on  Pine  street.  Midnight  had  passed, 
when  a  loud  falsetto  voice  filled  the  dark  room, 
and,  escaping  through  the  ventilator  into  the 
chamber  above,  awakened  Seraltha.  She  sat 
upright,  bewildered  by  the  first  sentence.  The 
voice  began  the  second  sentence.  Before  it  had 
ceased  she  stood  upon  the  floor,  and  her  eyes 
wandered  in  fright  to  discover  the  source.  When 
the  voice  had  completed  a  third  utterance,  she 
fled  to  the  parlor  and  crouched  in  the  furthest 
corner  from  her  chamber,  trembling  with  fear. 

The  voice  had  repeated  the  location  and  nature 
of  the  charm. 

Half  an  hour  later  Lethe  came  to  the  vesti 
bule,  on  the  way  to  her  chamber,  and  heard  the 
ominous  counting  to  eleven  ringing  through 


SERALTHA.  3H 

the  parlors.  Hastening  within,  and  guided 
through  the  darkness  by  Seraltha's  voice,  she 
found  her  kneeling  whore  she  had  crouched. 
She  hastily  raised  Seraltha  and  carried  her 
toward  the  chamber  from  which  she  had  fled. 
The  clenching  hands,  that  had  heretofore  been 
held  downward  by  rigid  arms  while  the  count 
ing  continued,  now  struck  Lethe's  head  and 
face,  and  fierce  threats  followed.  Neverthe 
less,  Lethe  held  firmly  to  her  purpose,  and 
after  being  placed  upon  her  bed  Seraltha's  vio 
lence  yielded  to  affectionate  persuasion.  She 
afterward  consented  to  act  the  part  assigned  to 
her  by  Lethe's  spirit  advisers  in  the  procure 
ment  of  the  charm.  Her  full  consent,  however, 
was  only  obtained  upon  Lethe's  assurance  that 
she  would  be  constantly  with  her. 

During  the  following  day  Lethe  visited  the 
cemetery  and  witnessed  a  burial  in  its  far 
ther  limits;  near  the  angle  of  a  low  wall  that 
held  the  sand  from  drifting  to  the  valley  below. 
After  the  ceremonies  were  ended  she  counted 
from  the  wall  along  a  row  of  mounds  to  the 
place  where  the  burial  had  been  made. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

HEAVY  night  fog  moved  off  the  storm 
disturbed  ocean,  and,  smothering  the 
roar  of  the  breakers,  spread  its  dense  mantle 
over  the  sand  dunes  along  the  shore ;  over  the 
valley  beyond  them;  over  the  cemetery,  and 
over  the  forms  of  two  women,  who  groped 
closely  along  the  higher  wall  toward  the  low 
angle  verging  upon  the  valley.  It  muffled  their 
footsteps  within  the  folds  of  drabbled  gowns, 
and  the  rays  from  distant  lamps  shrank  away 
into  narrow  disks  of  light. 

Arriving  at  the  low  angle,  the  taller  woman 
sprang  upon  the  wall,  and  then  lifted  the  other 
upon  it.  As  she  bent  forward,  a  sharp  metallic 
sound,  as  of  steel  instruments,  came  from  a  con 
tact  of  the  stone  upon  which  she  stood  with  ob 
jects  suspended  beneath  her  gown.  Lethe  St. 
Pier  had  guided  Seraltha  from  the  house  on 
Pine  street  to  the  vicinity  of  the  charm.  She 

(312) 


SERALTHA.  313 

now  led  her  to  an  elevation  of  sand,  and,  smooth 
ing  it  with  her  hands,  said,  in  low  tones: 

<f  Set  dar,  honey,  twil  I  come  back  foh  yoh. 
When  I  come  back  dah  chawm  is  ready  foh  dah 
scissors.  Doan  yoh  let  dah  skeer  come,  chile. 
Keep  it  away.  It  spiles  dah  chawm." 

Seraltha  responded  with  brave  words;  yet, 
after  being  seated,  tiny  streams  of  sand  flowed 
down  the  elevation  to  her  feet,  loosened  by  the 
trembling  form  upon  it.  Lethe  went  from  her 
to  the  first  one  of  the  row  of  mounds  that  she 
had  counted  in  the  day,  and  stooping  felt  about 
her.  She  then  walked  away  from  the  wall,  still 
stooping  and  touching  the  mounds.  Seraltha 
heard  the  words: 

"Two — four — six — seven — nine — eleven  — 
thirteen!  Dar's  grass!  Dis  is  wrong!" 

Lethe  returned  to  the  wall,  and  again  stoop 
ing,  walked  away  as  before,  but  with  slower 
movement: 

«  Two— four— five!— a  little  one !— six— seven 
— nine — eleven — thirteen!  " 

A  moment  later  the  dull  sound  of  a  shovel 


314  SERALTHA. 

pushed  firmly  into  the  sand  struggled  through 
the  fog.  Another  sound! — that  was  not  an  echo. 
Two  shovels  were  plying  in  the  sand. 

Half  an  hour  passed.  Subterranean  sounds 
came  faintly  to  Seraltha's  ears,  and  the  sand 
streams  increased  their  flow  down  the  elevation 
upon  which  she  sat. 

Soon  afterward,  Lethe  St.  Pier  stood  before 
Seraltha,  and  whispered: 

"  Come  chile.  Take  hold  ob  mah  hand.  Keep 
dah  skeer  away.  It  spiles  dah  chawm." 

They  walked  through  the  fog  to  the  place 
where  the  shovels  had  plied.  Lethe  raised  Seral 
tha  in  her  arms  and  bore  he-r  downward  into  an 
excavation.  When  she  stood  again  a  light,  flash 
ing  from  a  watchman's  lantern  suddenly  opened 
by  Lethe,  shone  upon  a  lock  of  golden  hair  rest 
ing  in  half  curl  upon  the  sand.  Lethe  whis 
pered: 

"  Bar's  dah  chawm.  Yoh's  dah  one  toh  take 
it." 

Seraltha  bent  forward  and  reached  her  hand 
to  take  it.  Lethe  held  her  from  it. 


SERALTHA.  315 

"  Doan  do  dat.     Yoh  mus'  cut  it  wiv  dah  scis 


sors/' 


As  Seraltha  took  the  scissors  from  a  pocket  of 
her  gown  the  blades  clinked  rapidly  together. 

"Keep  away  dah  skeer!  Keep  away  dah 
skeert  It  spiles  dah  chawm."  Lethe  spoke 
with  deep  earnestness,  and,  taking  Seraltha's 
hand,  she  steadily  brought  the  scissors  to  the 
lock  of  hair.  A  convulsive  closing  of  the 
blades  and  the  severed  lock  curled  upon  itself. 
"  Pick  it  up,  chile,  en  put  it  in  yoh  bosom." 

Seraltha  obeyed.  The  lock  moved  in  still 
closer  curl  as  she  closed  her  bodice.  She  reeled, 
and  falling  into  Lethe's  arms,  was  borne  by  her 
to  the  surface,  and  hurriedly  to  the  low  wall. 
When  they  arrived  there,  she  had  revived. 
Lethe  did  not  know  that  she  had  been  uncon 
scious. 

When  they  began  their  return  to  the  house 
on  Pine  street,  the  sounds  of  falling  sand  came 
faintly  through  the  dense  fog.  An  hour  later, 
Juan  Bermuda  placed  two  shovels  in  the  dark 
room  of  the  stable  loft. 


316  SEBALTHA. 

These  were  the  words  which  had  filled  the 
incantation  room  and  escaped  through  the  ven 
tilator  to  Seraltha's  chamber 

"  A  lock  of  hair  from  a  head  twelve  hours 
under  the  sand  of  the  cemetery,  cut  by  the 
woman  without  fear  and  put  under  the  pillow 
of  the  man  at  midnight/' 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

ERALTHA,  without  consulting  Abel 
Hyman,  returned  to  her  rooms  in  the 
Hotel  Havencourt,  on  the  evening  of  the  day 
after  the  charm  was  taken  from  the  cemetery. 
Chalmer  Grose  received  her  pleasantly.  After 
she  had  used  the  charm  in  conformity  with 
Lethe's  instructions  his  manner  toward  her  was 
so  engaging  that  she  had  faith  in  its  potency. 

Her  expectation  of  a  residence  at  the  Hotel 
del  Monte  was  not  realized,  for  upon  arrival  at 
Monterey,  in  accord  with  his  letter  to  her,  Chal 
mer  Grose  gave  private  orders  to  a  coachman  in 
waiting,  who  drove  his  carriage  to  a  cottage 
which  was  nearly  hidden  from  the  street  by 
vines  and  other  foliage. 

A  man  servant  waited  upon  the  carriage  when 
it  halted  at  a  side  veranda,  and  a  woman  whom 
he  called  Missus,  preceded  Seraltha  to  the  single 
parlor  of  the  cottage,  and  helped  to  arrange  her 

(317) 


SERALTHA. 

wardrobe,  and  that  of  Chalmer  Grose,  in  an 
adjoining  chamber. 

No  visitors  were  entertained  in  the  cottage. 
After  a  month  had  passed  Chalmer  Grose  began 
a  series  of  visits  to  San  Francisco,  which  gradu 
ally  extended  in  time  so  that  his  stay  in  Mon 
terey  became  of  the  nature  of  visits,  and  in  the 
city  that  of  residence. 

Exclusive  association  with  ignorant  servants 
bore  more  severely  upon  Seraltha  than  solitude 
would  have  done,  for  they  became  objects  of  her 
aversion,  the  display  of  which  escaped  her  con 
trol.  At  the  close  of  the  sixth  month  of  her 
residence  in  the  cottage,  the  servants  refused  to 
serve  her  longer,  and  departed.  They  had  been 
under  her  sway  since  her  arrival  there — Chal 
mer  Grose  having  given  no  heed  to  the  domestic 
economy,  except  to  furnish  Seraltha  money  for 
expenses.  He  did  not  correspond  with  her 
during  his  absence,  and  when  the  servants 
departed  two  weeks  had  elapsed  since  his  last 
visit  to  her. 

The  servants  left  the  cottage  at  an  early  hour 


SEBALTHA.  319 

of  the  day.  Seraltha  made  no  effort  to  secure 
others,  but  packed  her  trunks  and  proceeded  by 
an  afternoon  train  to  San  Francisco,  and,  upon 
her  arrival  there  in  the  evening,  to  the  Hotel 
Havencourt.  An  employee  obstructed  her 
progress  to  her  rooms  when  she  was  about  to 
enter  the  elevator,  and  upon  an  appeal  to  those 
in  the  office,  she  was  informed  that  she  would 
not  be  admitted  as  a  guest  of  the  hotel. 

She  became  violent.  Men  pressed  into  the 
office  and  assisted  the  servants  in  expelling  her. 
These  would  have  placed  her  in  the  custody  of 
a  police  officer,  but  Nat  Rapps,  who  had  arrived 
there  opportunely,  rescued  her  from  this  humil 
iation.  He  escorted  her  to  a  carriage,  and 
accompanied  her  to  another  hotel.  While  on 
their  way  she  expressed  a  desire  to  go  to  the 
house  of  Lethe  St.  Pier;  but  he  gave  a  reason 
why  she  should  not  dwell  there,  to  which  she 
yielded  assent. 

A  week  later  Chalmer  Grose  received  a  formal 
demand  from  Seraltha  Ames  Grose,  through 
her  attorney,  Abel  Hyman,  for  an  allotment  of 


320  BEBALTHA. 

sufficient  property  to  insure  her  a  separate 
maintenance.  To  this  demand  he  gave  refusal, 
by  attorney,  because — the  answer  declared — she 
had  dwelt  with  him  as  his  mistress,  and  not  as 
his  wife.  This  was  also  the  substance  of  his 
answer  to  her  declarations  and  demands  when 
proceedings  for  divorce  and  a  division  of  prop 
erty  were  afterward  begun  by  her  in  a  court  of 
law. 

The  names  of  other  attorneys  appeared  with 
that  of  Abel  Hyman  upon  the  documents  intro 
ducing  this  contest,  and  an  item  published  soon 
afterward  in  a  real  estate  journal  suggested  to 
Chalmer  Grose  the  identity  of  their  retainer. 
This  item  announced  the  sale  of  valuable  prop 
erty  by  Lethe  St.  Pier,  and  seemed  to  be  of  inter 
est  to  him,  for  he  made  it  the  subject  of  a  con 
ference  with  Hamilton  Tucker  in  the  office,  No. 
12  Hotel  Havencourt  Block. 

On  the  following  evening,  immediately  after 
the  coming  of  darkness,  Hamilton  Tucker  rode 
in  a  street  car  to  the  western  limit  of  the  city. 
After  alighting,  he  walked  through  obscure 
neighborhoods  to  Pine  street.  He  then  changed 


SEBALTHA.  321 

his  direction  and  kept  on  his  way  toward  the 
center  of  the  city,  until  he  arrived  at  the  house 
of  Lethe  St.  Pier. 

When  Lethe  opened  the  door  and  hade  him 
enter  the  reception  room,  she  did  not  recognize 
her  visitor.  He  wore  a  light  mackintosh,  which, 
being  buttoned  from  neck  to  feet,  concealed  his 
figure.  The  upturned  collar  covered  his  lower 
face,  meeting  a  driving-cap  drawn  down  over 
his  ears.  After  he  was  seated  and  had  removed 
his  cap,  she  became  aware  of  his  identity  and 
began  a  protest  against  his  visit,  because  of  his 
relations  to  Chalmer  Grose.  Her  speech,  as  she 
proceeded,  was  fast  becoming  a  tirade  against 
his  employer  and  all  who  were  in  sympathy 
with  him. 

"  I  have  left  his  service,"  he  said,  interrupt 
ing  her. 

"  Then  he  has  lost  a  good  man,"  she  instantly 
responded. 

If  Hamilton  Tucker  noticed  the  satire  con 
veyed  by  Lethe's  remark,  he  gave  no  sign  of 
the  fact,  for  he  continued  in  a  formal  speech 
that  savored  of  rehearsal: 


322  SEEALTHA. 

"  Our  opinions  upon  important  subjects  are 
not  in  accord.  We  differ  regarding  the  manage 
ment  of  certain  properties,  and  we  can  never 
become — er — reconciled.  My  interests  seem  to 
compel  me  to  the  action  that  I  have  taken,  and 
— -er — consequently  I  withdraw.  Having  accu 
mulated  a  large  sum  of  money  during  my — er 
connection  with  Mr.  Chalmer  Grose,  I  shall 
now  invest  it  in  a  business  of  my  own.  I  have 
considered  mining,  and  have  also  considered  a 
grain  ranch.  I  know  both;  I  mean — er — lam 
familiar  with  both,  and  could  not  be — be  called 
down  by  anyone  after  I  once  got  started." 

Hamilton  Tucker's  memory  was  evidently 
treacherous,  for  he  looked  toward  the  ceiling, 
and  perspiration  sprang  out  upon  his  forehead. 
He  unbuttoned  the  mackintosh  at  his  throat 
and  chest,  and,  plying  a  kerchief  vigorously 
over  his  face,  continued  his  recital  in  familiar 
language : 

"  I  want  your  help  to  show  me  where  the  big 
gest  fortune  is.  I  have  got  a  chance  at  a  silver 
mine,  and  I  have  got  one  at  a  grain  ranch.  The 
mine  crops  out  well,  and  the  soil  of  the  ranch 


SEFvALTHA.  323 

is  A  1.  Your  advice  has  made  a  fortune  for 
Mr.  Chalmer  Grose,  and  several  others  I  know 
of,  and  I  want  you  to  help  me.  I  want  a  hun 
dred  dollars'  worth  to-night.  That  is  for  telling 
me  what  to  do.  When  I  get  going,  I  will  give 
you  more  to  tell  me  the  best  way  to  manage." 

He  drew  five  twenty-dollar  gold  pieces  from 
his  pocket  and  held  them  toward  Lethe  in  his 
open  hand.  The  suspicion  regarding  his  pur 
pose,  which  her  face  had  manifested,  now  gave 
place  to  love  of  gain.  She  arose  from  her  seat, 
and,  taking  the  money  from  his  hand,  said  to 
him: 

"  I  believe  you,  now.  Come  to  the  parlor.  I 
will  help  you." 

Leading  the  way,  Lethe  conducted  him  to  the 
parlor,  and,  lighting  it  dimly,  gave  him  a  seat. 
She  then  inquired  minutely  regarding  his  finan 
ces,  business  methods  and  social  habits.  To  all 
of  her  questions  he  made  ready  answer.  She 
afterwards  informed  him  that  she  would  be  ab 
sent  an  hour — perhaps  two;  and,  requesting  him 
to  remain  there  until  her  return,  she  left  the 
room. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

llpjpETHE  had  been  absent  from  the  parlor 
l&SK  several  minutes  when  Hamilton  Tucker 

C'tfTT^^S*^* 

noted  the  time  by  his  watch  and  buttoned  his 
mackintosh.  Drawing  the  driving-cap  upon  his 
head  so  as  to  completely  cover  his  ears,  he  turned 
up  the  collar  against  it.  He  then  took  rubber 
shoes  from  an  outside  pocket  and  drew  them 
over  his  boots.  These  fitted  snugly  and  sup 
pressed  the  sound  of  his  footfall  as  he  afterward 
walked  about  the  parlor. 

The  time  was  past  nine  o'clock.  When  he 
entered  the  house,  scattering  drops  of  rain  were 
falling  perpendicularly  from  clouds  drifting 
lazily  from  the  ocean.  As  the  night  advanced, 
the  clouds  lowered.  Now  the  rising  wind  drove 
oblique  floods  along  the  verandas,  shaking  the 
house  meanwhile  with  rustling  noises. 

He  walked  in  circuits  of  increasing  distances 
until  at  one  point  he  passed  close  by  the  draperies 
of  the  vestibule,  bending  his  head  in  an  attitude 

(324) 


SERALTHA.  325 

of  listening,  and  at  the  opposite  point  he  peered 
through  an  open  door  into  the  darkness  of  the 
dressing-room.  At  times,  as  he  approached  the 
door,  he  seemed  to  shiver  in  response  to  the 
blasts  outside,  and  to  falter  with  weakness. 
Upon  other  circuits  he  boldly  trod  near  its 
threshold,  as  if  impelled  by  a  sudden  dash  of 
courage.  During  one  of  these  moments  of 
resolution  he  stepped  within  the  dressing-room. 
Emerging  from  it  instantly,  he  walked  waver- 
ingly  upon  the  circuit  of  his  former  pathway, 
and  his  shivering  shoulders  rustled  the  cape  of 
his  mackintosh,  which  he  nervously  unbuttoned 
from  throat  to  waist  as  he  walked.  He  then 
made  three  full  circuits  of  the  parlors. 

His  face  showed  the  weak  lines  of  cowardice, 
of  which  his  wavering  steps  and  shivering  form 
also  gave  evidence.  He  looked  about  the  room, 
from  window  to  window,  as  if  he  saw  glances 
from  an  eye  piercing  through  the  curtains. 
A  change  came  upon  him  when  he  had  passed 
the  vestibule  upon  the  third  circuit.  A  fierce 
expression  overspread  his  face,  and  his  chest 
swelled  against  his  mackintosh  as  he  rebuttoned 


326  SERALTHA. 

it.  Drawing  the  collar  to  a  level  with  his  eyes, 
he  hastened  forward,  and  entered  the  dressing- 
room. 

The  storm  outside  seemed  to  be  in  complicity 
with  him  to  suppress  all  sounds  within  the 
house,  for  he  slowly  groped  along  his  way  to  the 
gorgeous  chamber,  and,  carefully  drawing  its 
unsecured  carpet  away  from  a  corner,  he  raised 
the  trap  door  and  rested  it  against  the  adjoining 
wall  without  disturbing  the  sorceress  in  the 
room  below.  Hastily  stepping  upon  the  narrow 
stairway,  he  began  a  forward  descent.  When 
his  eyes  came  under  the  level  of  the  opening, 
he  stopped  and  looked  upon  the  scene  which 
suddenly  appeared  to  his  view. 

By  the  dim  light  of  a  tin  oil  lamp,  standing 
on  a  pine  table,  he  saw  muscular  arms,  long 
and  black,  moving  beckoningly  above  the  flame; 
sinewy  hands  reaching  with  grasping  fingers 
toward  their  restless  shadows  upon  the  white 
wall  beyond;  a  broad  back,  ebon  as  the  night, 
rising  long  above  disheveled  folds  of  scarlet, 
and  a  turbaned  head  moving  from  side  to  side, 
as  the  eyes,  which  were  turned  from  him,  sought 


SERALTHA.  327 

to  discover  apparitions  in  the  flame  of  the  lamp. 

The  five  pieces  of  gold  which  Lethe  had  taken 
from  his  hand  lay  in  a  crescent  form  upon  the 
table.  At  times  the  right  hand  ceased  its 
beckoning  and  pointed  a  finger  toward  them, 
while  the  left  continued  its  movements,  and  her 
tongue  uttered  pleadings  to  unseen  attendants 
in  incessant  and  uncanny  language.  The 
broken  cane-seated  chair — unseen  beneath  the 
scarlet  gown  of  the  half-disrobed  form  upon  it- 
croaked  rhythms  to  her  gestures  that  mocked 
the  intonations  of  a  smothering  raven. 

Hamilton  Tucker  shivered,  as  he  had  done 
when  walking  in  the  parlor,  and  his  body  wav 
ered,  shaking  the  insecure  stairway  upon  which 
he  stood.  He  reached  above  him  for  support, 
and,  grasping  the  edge  of  the  upturned  door 
incautiously,  he  drew  it  violently  downward. 
In  an  effort  to  protect  himself  from  the  falling 
door  he  lost  his  balance  and  fell  to  the  foot  of 
the  stairway. 

He  sprang  to  his  feet;  but,  before  he  was  in 
position  to  attack,  Lethe  had  pinioned  his  arms 
with  her  own.  While  struggling  to  free  himself 


328  SEKALTHA. 

from  her  grasp,  lie  perceived  an  advantage  and 
pushed  her  on  the  stairway.  The  shock  of  the 
fall  caused  her  to  release  him. 

Hamilton  Tucker  put  one  hand  against  Lethe's 
shoulder  and  with  the  other  drew  a  weapon  from 
the  breast  pocket  of  his  mackintosh.  The 
weapon  had  been  placed  to  be  readily  drawn, 
for  in  the  instant  that  his  arms  were  freed  his 
hand  was  uplifted,  holding  the  stylet  which  had 
paled  the  face  of  Hermina  at  the  charnel  of  the 
grain  ranch. 

He  moved  to  strike,  and  had  an  ample  mark. 
Lethe's  sable  breast  glistened  above  the  scarlet 
gown  caught  in  disorder  about  her  waist,  and 
drew  his  aim.  He  had  come  prepared  to  kill 
without  bearing  away  a  token  of  his  deed.  The 
silent  stylet  might  draw  blood  upon  the  imper 
vious  mackintosh,  but  stripped  of  it  his  cloth 
ing  would  be  clean.  He  had  come  to  kill.  Seral- 
tha  would  then  be  deprived  of  aid,  and  his  mas 
ter  could  rejoice  in  her  defeat.  He  had  come 
with  cheer,  for  a  princely  recompense  awaited 
his  success. 

Yet,  the  weapon  did  not  reach  its  mark. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

[E  trap  door  had  opened  noiselessly.  As 
Hamilton  Tucker  raised  the  stylet  to  a 
poise,  a  noose  sped  downward  and  closed  around 
the  upturned  collar  of  his  mackintosh.  A  glossy 
rope,  stretching  from  his  neck  into  the  dark 
ness  of  the  upper  room,  threw  him  along  the 
stairway.  The  stylet  fell  from  his  hand.  Before 
he  could  arise,  a  form  dropped  down  by  his  side 
that,  with  a  foot  against  his  chest,  drew  upon 
the  rope  and  severed  it  with  a  knife  close  to  his 
throat.  Stunned  and  bewildered  he  staggered 
to  his  feet  and  looked  around  the  room,  as 
one  peering  through  mists  to  see  an  approach 
ing  enemy.  His  hand  rose  above  his  head,  as 
if  the  stylet  was  yet  in  its  grasp,  and  then  fell 
to  his  throat,  clutching  the  cones  of  the  revenge 
ful  lariat  of  Juan  Bermuda,  who,  without  scarf 
or  sponge,  now  crouched  upon  the  floor  and 
looked  upward,  a  silent  laugh  spreading  in 
hideous  lines  of  brown  and  yellow  over  his  face. 

(329;) 


330  SERALTHA. 

y 

The  man  above  him,  from  clutching  about  his 
throat,  began  to  grasp  the  air,  and  then  a  husky 
breath  sounded  throughout  the  room,  drawn 
inward  by  a  mighty  effort  of  his  chest.  Juan 
Bermuda,  still  crouching,  looked  up  at  his  vic 
tim  and  laughed  until  the  breath  came  hissingly 
out. 

Another  breath,  drawn  slowly  inward  by  his 
anguished  chest,  and  Hamilton  Tucker  threw 
himself  against  the  door  of  the  wainscoting  and 
fell  within  the  furnace-room.  Arising,  as  if  he 
had  bounded  upward,  he  ran  to  the  iron  door  of 
the  basement  area.  He  tore  away  the  bolt  with  a 
strength  redoubled  by  despair,  and,  pushing  the 
door  aside,  leaped  upward  to  the  ground.  He 
sped  across  the  lawn  and  down  the  steep  drive 
way  to  the  street. 

The  storm  beat  fast  upon  him,  yet  he  ran 
along  the  street  with  increasing  speed  and 
turned  from  it  to  cross  a  vacant  lot.  Diagonally 
across  the  space  the  colored  urns  of  a  phar 
macy  glimmered  through  the  rain  drops.  In 
the  center  of  the  lot  a  mast  held  an  electric 


SERALTHA.  331 

light,  which   illuminated   a  wet   and  slippery 
pathway  ascending  toward  the  urns. 

He  faltered  when  he  reached  the  path,  and 
slipping,  stumbled;  but,  pressing  his  hands 
against  his  chest,  he  rallied  and  ran  swiftly 
onward.  He  stopped  beneath  the  electric  light. 
His  knees  smote  together.  He  raised  his  hands 
above  his  head  in  an  imploring  clasp.  The 
latest  breath  inhaled  refused  an  expiration. 
He  sank  slowly  to  the  pathway,  and  lay  with 
his  face  toward  the  dazzling  electric  light,  and 
with  the  colored  urns  of  the  pharmacy  within 
his  vision.  *  *  * 

He  saw  a  red  blade  spring  out  from  an  urn  of 
the  pharmacy,  beveled  like  the  stylet  which  he 
had  poised  above  the  form  of  Lethe  St.  Pier. 
It  swiftly  grew  in  length,  and  drove  its  point 
into  the  electric  light  above  him,  that  now 
appeared  a  sun  blazing  broad  and  high.  Drops 
of  silvery  blood  fell  from  the  wounded  sun, 
splashing  upon  the  pathway  and  into  his  star 
ing  eyes. 

Another  blade,  of  ceruleous  blue,  aimed  its 


332  SEEALTHA. 

point  along  the  bevel  of  the  red,  and  made 
another  wound  beside  the  first.  Spangles  of 
fire  fell  down  with  the  silvery  drops,  as  if  the 
second  thrust  had  pierced  a  fiery  artery.  The 
dazzling  sun  grew  white  and  pale. 

A  yellow  blade  sped  its  point  with  lightning 
aim  along  the  bevel  of  the  blue.  Green  flames 
flashed  from  the  fading  sun,  consuming  the 
blades  and  the  urns  of  the  pharmacy. 

The  horizon  turned  black.  In  the  zenith 
a  radiant  globe  appeared,  with  zones  of  white 
and  red,  of  yellow,  blue  and  green,  that,  slowly 
rising,  shrank  to  an  iridescent  star;  this,  rising 
still,  twinkled  in  changing  colors,  from  green  to 
blue,  to  yellow,  red  and  white,  then  shot  aloft 
through  eternal  distances  and  waned  to  a  ray — 
a  point — an  atom: — The  eyes  beneath  the  visor 
of  the  riding-cap  saw— Death  ! 

A  workman  hastening  to  a  distant  shop 
before  the  sun  dispelled  the  dense  fog  which 
had  followed  the  storm  from  the  ocean  and 
rested  still  and  low  upon  the  pavements  of  the 
city,  turned  from  the  street  into  the  diagonal 


SERALTHA.  333 

pathway  leading  to  the  pharmacy.  He  whistled 
as  he  walked,  and  unseen  linnets  chirped 
responses  from  shadowy  bushes  upon  either 
side. 

Midway  of  the  path  he  cried  out  in  alarm. 
Glassy  eyes,  beneath  the  visor  of  a  riding-cap, 
stared  through  the  fog  within  a  stride  of  him. 
His  exclamation  guided  a  policeman  to  where  a 
man  had  died  with  a  noose  around  his  neck, 
which  seemed  to  be  an  endless  plaiting  of  black 
horsehair  with  cones  distributed  along  its  sur 
face.  No  loop  was  visible.  The  policeman  was 
a  veteran  in  his  occupation,  yet,  after  he  had 
examined  the  noose,  he  shivered  and  drew  away, 
until  a  screen  of  fog  hid  the  unaccountable 
death-weapon  from  his  sight. 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 

revolvers,  of  different  sizes,  lay 
within  a  recess  of  the  chiffonier  in  the 
gorgeous  chamber  of  the  house  on  Pine  street, 
left  there  by  Chalmer  Grose  when  he  removed 
to  the  Hotel  Havencourt.  A  pearl  handle  orna 
mented  the  smaller  one,  that,  although  of  effect 
ive  caliber,  seemed  a  toy  beside  its  fellows.  The 
one  of  medium  length  had  a  heavy  magazine, 
a  polished  barrel,  thick  and  short,  and  an  ivory 
handle.  A  long  hexagonal  barrel  distinguished 
the  larger  one,  that  in  caliber  and  weight  seemed 
fitted  for  a  trooper's  use.  All  were  loaded,  and 
beside  each  one  lay  a  box  of  cartridges. 

After  his  victim  had  fled  from  the  incantation 
room  Juan  Bermuda  put  the  five  pieces  of  gold 
in  his  pocket,  and,  ascending  the  stairway  to  the 
room  above,  took  the  large  revolver  from  the 
chiffonier.  When  the  workman  walked  through 
the  fog  toward  the  pharmacy,  Juan  Bermuda 

(334) 


SERALTHA.  335 

was  many  miles  beyond  the  limits  of  the  city, 
with  a  roll  of  blankets  on  his  back,  hastening 
through  unfrequented  ways  toward  a  Mexican 
settlement  in  a  canyon  of  the  Coast  Mountains. 
If  Nat  Rapps  had  not  been  informed  of  the 
slaying  of  Hamilton  Tucker,  the  absence  of  Juan 
Bermuda  from  the  city  would  have  been  unneces 
sary  to  his  safety  from  arrest.    At  the  inquest 
no  evidence  appeared  to  reveal  the  movements 
of  his  victim  throughout  the  evening  before  the 
discovery  of  the  body.     Hamilton  Tucker  was 
away  from  his  usual  haunts  during  that  time, 
but  had  not  made  the  purpose  of  his  absence 
known  to  his  associates.     They  could  throw  no 
light  upon  the  mystery.   Chalmer  Grose  denied 
knowledge   of  his   movements,   and  Hermina 
seemed  cheerful  while  giving  similar  testimony. 
The  noose  had  been  cut  away  by  a  surgeon,  but 
it  unfolded  no  tale  to  the  detectives,  except  that 
of  its  fitness  to  produce  a  silent  and  lingering 
death.     Alarming  stories   spread   abroad  from 
the  Central  Police  Station  of  the  advent  in  the 
city  of  anarchists  who  lurked  in  storm  and  fog  to 


336  SEBALTHA. 

kill  prosperous  citizens  with  grotesque  weapons; 
and  of  the  presence  of  assassins  who  had  put 
aside  the  knife — fearing  the  tell-tale  blood — and 
pounced  upon  their  victims  with  a  noose  of 
horse  hair,  deftly  coned  to  fit  the  neck  of  man 
or  child. 

Nat  Rapps,  hearing  of  this  weapon,  obtained 
permission  to  search  the  store-room  of  the  Police 
Station,  from  which  he  brought  the  bundle  to 
light  that  a  fireman  found  upon  the  lawn  of  the 
Mission  Dolores.  From  it  the  officials  learned, 
with  much  chagrin,  that  Hamilton  Tucker  had 
died  by  the  hand  of  a  Mexican,  who  swung  an 
ingenious  lariat  and  cut  the  line  from  the  noose 
with  a  table  knife.  Investigation,  aided  by  the 
cleverness  of  Nat  Rapps,  materialized  the  myths 
of  the  Police  Station  to  an  eccentric  individual 
who  walked  the  streets  only  by  night,  with  his 
face  muffled  as  if  he  were  an  invalid,  and  who 
had  lived  in  the  Glen,  and  later  at  the  house  of 
Lethe  St.  Pier  on  Pine  street. 

Chance  Neely ,  of  the  Private  Detective  Agency, 
being  desirous  of  the  reward  then  offered  for  the 
arrest  of  the  slayer  of  his  friend,  and  being  fur- 


SERALTHA.  337 

nished  with  information  from  the  reports  of  Nat 
Rapps  in  the  Investigator,  made  a  visit  to  the 
house  on  Pine  street.  When  he  arrived  there 
he  read  a  warrant  to  Lethe  for  the  arrest  of  John 
Doe  Mexican.  Lethe  St.  Pier  was  superior  to 
Chance  Neely  in  craftiness.  He  searched  the 
house  and  did  not  find  the  dark  room  hy  the 
furnace.  All  the  effects  hy  which  the  recent 
presence  of  Juan  Bermuda  might  be  proved 
were  in  that  room.  Prompted  hy  what  she  said 
to  him,  he  afterwards  journeyed  to  the  distant 
mountain  city  where  Chalmer  Grose  had  suf 
fered  from  the  wounds  of  the  Cascades,  and 
searched  in  the  Mexican  settlement  near  its 
limits,  and  in  the  mountains  thereabout.  Chance 
Neely  being  thus  mislead,  Juan  Bermuda  rested 
securely  in  his  hiding  place,  three  hundred  miles 
away.  After  several  days  of  vain  search,  Chance 
Neely  returned  to.  San  Francisco,  where  he 
immediately  became  engaged  in  matters  per 
taining  to  the  interests  of  the  defendant  in  the 
divorce  case  of  "  Grose  versus  Grose,"  which, 
after  many  delays,  came  to  a  trial  before  a  Judge 
of  untarnished  reputation. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

NEEDY  WRITER,  walking  along  the 
<pp5£»!  street  with  a  sinful  story  in  his  reti 
cule,  met  a  Ready  Sale,  who  took  the  story  from 
him  and  began  to  read  aloud. 

A  Law  Court  sitting  within  a  window  near 
by,  weighing  Equities  with  a  balance-scale,  heard 
the  reading  and  saw  the  Needy  Writer  hasten 
ing  away  with  a  large  coin  in  his  hand.  The 
Law  Court  ceased  his  occupation,  and,  giving 
vigorous  chase,  caught  the  Needy  Writer  and 
brought  him  into  the  room  where  he  kept  the 
balance-scale. 

The  Law  Court  took  the  large  coin  away  from 
the  Needy  Writer  and  threw  him  into  an  iron 
cage,  which  he  locked  with  multifarous  keys. 

The  Ready  Sale  still  read  the  sinful  story 
upon  the  street  and  had  drawn  a  large  concourse 
of  people  about  him,  who  gave  much  applause. 

In  the  midst  of  his  reading,  a  Divorce  Case, 


8EBALTHA.  339 

in  excessive  decollete,  saluted  the  Law  Court  in 
a  loud  voice  and  began  to  read  her  History,  to 
which  he  listened  dispassionately.  The  con 
course  of  people  deserted  the  Ready  Sale,  and, 
beckoning  to  others  up  and  down  the  street, 
stood  beside  the  window  straining  their  necks 
to  see  and  hear. 

When  the  Law  Court  brought  bread  and  water 
to  the  iron  cage,  the  following  morning,  blushes 
covered  the  face  of  the  Needy  Writer,  congested 

there  from  the  hearing  of  the  History. 

***** 

The  progress  of  a  day  had  been  made  upon 
the  case  of  "  Grose  versus  Grose."  During  the 
ensuing  evening  Seraltha  visited  Lethe  St.  Pier 
in  the  house  on  Pine  street.  In  the  various 
parleys  and  contentions  between  opposing  coun 
sel,  which  consumed  the  entire  time  of  the 
opening  day,  the  policy  of  the  defense  was  fore 
shadowed  as  being  that  which  is  common  in 
contested  divorce  cases:  a  convincing  of  the 
Court  and  the  public  that  the  biter  is  the  one 
who  has  been  bitten.  References  to  the  plain- 


340  SERALTHA. 

tiff  were  contemptuous,  and  brought  resentment 
into  her  face,  and  the  calumny  of  the  answer  to 
her  petition  drew  lines  of  anger  upon  it.  Her 
eyes  moved  rapidly  in  violet  flashing  and  her 
hands  became  tightly  clenched.  The  influence 
of  Abel  Hyman,  exerted  at  the  critical  moment 
by  soothing  words,  prevented  more  violent  dem 
onstrations  of  her  derangement ;  still,  the 
defense  had  profited.  She  was  apparently 
vicious. 

The  demeanor  of  the  day  still  lingered  upon 
her  when  she  entered  Lethe's  presence.  She 
had  laid  aside  her  walking  costume  of  latest 
fashion  and  now  wore  that  of  the  surah-silk 
gown,  even  to  the  old  English  hat,  and  the 
satchel  of  oxidized  hook  and  chain. 

"What  foh  yoh  wear  dah  ole  cloz,  chile?" 
Lethe  questioned,  after  she  had  conducted  Seral- 
tha  to  the  parlor.  "  En  dah  beautiful  back  hair 
lookin'  zif  'twasn't  had  no  brush  en  comb  since 
yoh  put  dah  dress  on  dah  firs'  time.  En  dah 
hair  pins  all  comin'  out!" 

Seraltha   made   no   response   to   these  criti- 


SEBALTHA.  341 

cisms  upon  her  apparel,  but  excitedly  re 
hearsed  the  readings  and  sayings  uttered 
before  the  Court  by  the  defendant's  counsel, 
afterward  bewailing  her  blemished  reputation. 
Lethe  listened  intently — her  eyes  meanwhile 
beaming  with  sympathy — until  an  opportunity 
was  given  her  to  speak.  Earnestly,  and  without 
the  plantation  accent  she  said: 

"Listen  to  me,  child!  What  I  am  going  to 
tell  }^ou  now  is  nothing  that  the  spirits  told  me. 
It  is  what  I  see  with  my  own  eyes  and  know  by 
my  own  finding.  Something  worse  is  waiting 
for  you  than  the  spiteful  talk  of  Chalmer  Grose 
and  his  lawyers — something  worse,  child,  than 
the  hurt  to  your  reputation.  The  reputation 
won't  be  hurt  when  you  get  your  share  of  the 
property,  and  nobody  will  lock  the  door  when 
you  want  to  come  in  the  front  way;  but  nothing 
will  give  satisfaction  if  you  lose  your  life. 
Somebody  is  scheming  to  take  that  without  get 
ting  into  trouble  afterward.  I  didn't  find  this 
out  from  spirits,  child — spirits  had  nothing  to 
do  with  it.  I  saw  something,  myself,  and  I 


342  SERALTHA. 

have  read  from  it,  the  same  as  you  read  from  a 
book,  until  the  story  is  all  told.  This  is  the 
story:  If  Lethe  St.  Pier  is  killed,  then  Mrs. 
Chalmer  Grose  can't  find  any  money  for  a 
divorce  from  Chalmer  Grose.  Lethe  St.  Pier 
don't  get  killed,  and  Mrs.  Chalmer  Grose  can 
find  plenty  of  money  for  a  divorce,  and  she  can 
keep  it  until  she  gets  her  money  from  Chalmer 
Grose.  Then,  what?  If  there  was  no  Mrs.  Chal 
mer  Grose — if  the  lady  who  is  Mrs.  Chalmer 
Grose  wasn't  living  anywhere  on  the  earth — 
then  Chalmer  Grose  would  be  a  widower,  and 
nobody  would  be  asking  for  a  divorce  or  for 
money.  If  Mrs.  Chalmer  Grose  dies  from  poi 
son,  or  is  found  on  the  street,  or  anywhere  else, 
with  a  knife  in  her  bosom  and  the  handle  stick 
ing  out  on  the  left  side,  then  the  Coroner  will 
say,  '  She  was  ashamed  of  her  life  and  took  the 
poison/  or,  '  She  pushed  the  knife  into  her 
bosom  with  her  right  hand.'  Then,  what?  Chal 
mer  Grose  has  got  no  more  trouble.  This  is  a 
true  story,  child.  Here  is  the  knife  that  didn't 
get  to  the  bosom  of  Lethe  St.  Pier,  and  here  is 


SERALTHA.  343 

the  revolver  that  will  kill  the  man  who  tries  to 
use  another  one." 

Lethe  drew  from  a  pocket  of  her  gown  the 
stylet  that  Hamilton  Tucker  raised  above  her  in 
the  incantation  room,  and  the  medium-sized 
revolver  of  the  chiffonier. 

Seraltha  had  comprehended  the  story.  The 
tide  of  her  distraction  was  now  in  full  flood,  and 
the  incidents  of  the  day,  together  with  the 
probabilities  shown  in  the  story,  had  served  to 
develop  another  symptom  of  mental  disorder — 
the  delusion  of  persecution.  She  sprang  from 
her  seat,  exclaiming: 

'*  Yes !  Yes !  I  know  him !  He  watched  me 
throughout  the  day!  Give  me  both!  Both! 
One  I  will  fix  in  my  corsage  with  a  camlet 
sheath,  and  one  I  will  carry  by  my  side,  in  the 
satchel." 

Lethe  drew  away  from  her,  and  returned  the 
weapons  to  her  pocket,  yet  Seraltha  continued: 

"  He  had  a  thievish  face,  and,  sitting  by  the 
railing  in  the  court-room,  he  gazed  at  me 
from  between  his  stooping  shoulders,  marking 


344  SERALTHA. 

the  place  where  he  would  strike.  To-morrow 
he  will  sit  nearer.  Give  them  to  me !  Both ! 
Both !  I  will  meet  him  with  them  when  he 
springs  toward  me." 

Seraltha's  face  now  expressed  command. 
Approaching  suddenly  to  Lethe's  side,  she  seized 
her  gown,  and,  thrusting  a  hand  into  its  pocket, 
quickly  grasped  that  within.  She  drew  the 
stylet  from  the  pocket.  Lethe's  sinewy  fingers 
clasped  her  wrist,  and  for  a  moment  kept  the 
hand  that  held  the  weapon  to  a  nerveless  quiet- 
With  the  knowledge  that  she  was  being  resisted 
came  the  mysterious  strength  of  frenzy  that 
enters  a  languid  form  and  vamps  its  flaccid 
muscles  with  bands  of  steel.  A  cunning  comes, 
out-feating  reason. 

Seraltha's  eyes  shone  with  purple  gleams  as 
she  turned  the  captive  wrist  with  sudden  wrench 
and  drove  the  blade  of  the  stylet  deep  into 
Lethe's  arm,  the  hilt  escaping  from  her  grasp. 
The  heavy  tendons  of  the  arm  contracted  and 
held  the  the  blade  firmly.  The  pain  of  the 
wound  sent  a  quiver  through  Lethe's  form. 


SEEALTHA.  345 

Before  reaction  came,  the  free  hand  of  Seraltha 
had  again  entered  the  pocket  of  Lethe's  gown; 
she  saw  the  gleaming  barrel  of  the  revolver  and 
heard  the  warning  click  of  its  hammer,  as  it 
rose  before  her  face. 

"Not  me!  Child!  Lethe  St.  Pier  has  no 
thievish  face!  " 

Lethe  spoke  gently,  and  dropped  the  hand 
that  had  held  the  stylet.  The  words,  their  sug 
gestion,  their  kindly  accents,  and  the  release  of 
the  prisoned  hand  were  timely.  The  weapon 
wavered  an  instant,  then  its  aim  was  changed 
to  a  distant  point  in  the  room. 

"No  I  Not  Lethe  St.  Pier !  The  man  with  the 
thievish  face!  Is  he  here?"  Lowering  the 
weapon  to  the  level  of  her  waist,  and  still  hold 
ing  it  in  aim,  Seraltha  peered  over  it,  waving 
the  freed  hand  before  her  face,  as  if  mists  had 
gathered  there:  "He  is  sitting  by  the  rail 
ing!"  She  moved  a  step  forward.  Her  hand 
tightly  clenched  the  handle  of  the  revolver,  and 
an  inexperienced  finger  pressed  upon  the  trigger- 
guard. 


346  SERALTHA. 

She  lowered  the  revolver  and  advanced  toward 
the  point  at  which  she  had  aimed.  She  stopped 
midway  the  parlor  and  looked  around  con 
fusedly,  then  again  looked  toward  the  place  of 
her  aim. 

"He  is  not  there,"  she  whispered.  "The 
railing  is  in  the  court-room." 

The  revolver  fell  from  tier  hand  and  she  sank 
to  the  floor  beside  it.  The  spell  of  her  frenzy 
was  broken. 

During  the  time  of  her  occupation  as  nurse, 
Lethe  had  assisted  surgeons  in  important  opera 
tions.  She  knew  of  the  action  of  veins  and 
arteries.  The  absence  of  blood,  except  a  drop 
that  trickled  along  her  wrist  as  she  raised  her 
arm  to  examine  the  hurt,  after  the  aim  of  the 
revolver  had  been  withdrawn  from  her  face, 
showed  her  that  no  artery  had  been  touched. 
Striving  resolutely  against  the  pain  caused  by 
the  stylet,  she  followed  Seraltha  when  she  ad 
vanced  toward  the  object  of  her  hallucination, 
and  was  about  to  plead  for  possession  of  the 
revolver  when  Seraltha  fell  with  it  to  the  floor. 


SERALTHA.  347 

"Dan  pore  chile  I"  Lethe  exclaimed,  as  she 
stooped  and  looked  upon  the  prostrate  form. 
"  She  nebber  meant  harm  toh  me.  She's  crazy 
froh  dah  spite  of  Chalmer  Grose.  Mebbe  she's 
gwine  to  die ! "  Lethe  stooped  lower.  "  Her 
face  done  gittin'  whiter  en  whiter!  Who  helped 
Chalmer  Grose  get  his  hands  on  her?  Who 
helped  him,  I  say?  Lethe  St.  Pier!  If  I'se 
nebber  prayed  befo'  in  mah  life  I'se  gwine  toh 
now.  Nobuddy  ebber  tole  me  how,  but  I'se 
gwine  toh." 

She  knelt  and  clasped  Seraltha's  hand  within 
her  own.  A  drop  of  blood  fell  from  the  hilt  of 
the  stylet  and  traced  a  purple  line  across  the 
white  palm.  Lethe  wiped  it  away.  Another 
drop  fell  and  sank  into  the  texture  of  the  car 
pet.  And  another. 

"  Mebbe  dis  dah  blood  ob  dah  'tenement  dem 
colored  folks  shoutin'  'bout  on  dah  plantation. 
I'se  better  been  listenin'  'sted  ob  sayin'  '  crazy 
folks.'  "  She  wrapped  her  neckerhief  about  the 
hilt  of  the  stylet  and  around  her  arm.  Again 
clasping  Seraltha's  hand,  she  continued:  "I'se 


348  SERALTHA. 

done  been  dat  wicked  toh  help  Chalmer  Grose 
get  his  hands  on  dah  chile.  I'se  sorry!  Mebhe 
dat's  gwine  toh  make  some  diffunce  wiv  dah 
Lawd,  en  He  done  keep  her  alive  'till  Lethe  St. 
Pier  helps  her  toh  get  away  froh  dah  trouble. 
He's  gwine  toh ! " 

Returning  animation  showed  in  Seraltha's 
face,  and  from  spasmodic  movements  of  her 
body,  yet  her  frenzy  had  wasted  her  energies  so 
that  she  could  not  arise  without  aid.  Lethe 
cautiously  secured  the  revolver  and  hid  it  away 
from  sight  in  the  upholstery  of  a  s^ofa.  She 
then  raised  Seraltha  from  the  floor  with  the 
uninjured  arm  and  gave  her  an  unresisted  sup 
port  to  the  bed  in  the  gorgeous  chamber,  Seral 
tha  gave  childlike  compliance  to  Lethe's  bid 
ding  that  she  should  retire  there,  and  remain 
in  her  care  until  morning.  With  Lethe's  assist 
ance  she  disrobed,  and  was  soon  asleep.  She  knew 
nothing  of  the  stylet  that  still  rested  in  its 
sinewy  sheath.  The  hilt  lay  close  to  the  fore 
arm,  concealed  by  folds  of  the  ample  kerchief, 
to  which  she  had  given  no  attention. 


SERALTHA.  349 

After  Seraltha  slept,  Lethe  hastened  to  her 
own  chamber.  Within  a  brief  time  she  returned 
clothed  in  other  garments,  and  sitting  near  the 
bedside,  began  the  vigils  of  the  night.  Aided 
by  stoic  nerves  she  had  accomplished  a  surgeon's 
task.  A  band  of  linen,  tightly  drawn,  showed 
upon  her  arm  within  the  loose  sleeve  of  a  morn 
ing  gown.  At  times  during  the  night  pain 
sprang  from  under  the  band  which  bore  anguish 
to  her  face.  She  would  then  look  at  the  still 
form  on  the  bed. 

"  Dah  blood  ob  dah  'tenement  drippin*  in 
dar,"  she  would  whisper,  when  the  pain  abated. 
"  Who  helped  Chalmer  Grose  get  his  hands  on 
dah  chile  ?  Lethe  St.  Pier  I " 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

JERALTHA'S  manner  gave  no  evidence 
of  distraction  when  she  awoke  in  the 
morning  following  her  frenzied  conduct  with 
the  weapons.  Because  of  this  Lethe  soon  left 
her,  fully  assured  that  she  might  safely  do  so. 
The  deep  sleep  of  the  night  had  brought  serenity 
to  Seraltha;  yet,  after  reflecting  upon  the  inci 
dents  of  the  court-room,  her  thoughts  reverted 
to  the  story  told  by  Lethe,  and  a  fear  of  danger 
followed. 

Her  memory  of  the  parlor  scene  failed  where 
she  had  attempted  to  possess  the  weapons,  but 
she  remembered  that  Lethe  had  declared  the 
revolver  to  be  an  ample  protection  against 
future  assault.  After  dressing,  she  opened  the 
chiffonier  and  took  the  small  revolver.  As  she 
put  it  in  her  satchel  a  look  of  triumph  over 
spread  her  face* 

Proceedings  of  the  second  day  of  her  case 
had  begun  when  she  arrived  at  the  court-room. 

(350) 


SEBALTHA.  351 

Approaching  through  chambers,  she  met 
Chance  Neely,  who  was  passing  out  hurriedly. 
A  case  of  law  books,  standing  in  the  centre  of 
the  room  in  which  they  met,  obscured  him  from 
her  sight,  until  in  turning  to  pass  around  it  she 
came  abruptly  within  touch  of  him.  Startled, 
she  exclaimed: 

"The  thievish  face!" 

Stepping  back,  Seraltha  quickly  opened  her 
satchel  and  plunged  a  hand  within  it.  As  if  he 
felt  that  an  avenger  stood  before  him,  he  seized 
her,  and,  pushing  her  violently  against  the 
book  case,  ran  out  through  the  doorway  by  which 
she  had  entered.  Bewildered  by  the  shock,  she 
mistook  the  direction  in  which  he  had  fled,  and, 
intent  on  pursuing  him,  she  sprang  through  the 
doorway  leading  into  the  court-room.  She 
halted  just  within  the  room,  her  eyes  wandering 
in  perplexity  from  the  Judge,  who  looked  down 
upon  her  from  his  bench,  to  faces  in  the 
audience,  and  among  the  lawyers  and 
reporters  within  the  railing.  A  stillness  spread 
about  the  room  that  seemed  to  be  in  waiting  for 


352  SEKALTHA. 

a  signal  to  become  an  uproar.  Seraltha  now 
held  the  revolver  fully  exposed  to  view. 

An  alert  bailiff  stepped  from  his  place  and 
wrenched  the  weapon  from  her.  He  had  seized 
her  arm,  and  was  pushing  her  roughly  toward 
the  prisoner's  dock,  when  Abel  Hyman  sprang 
forward  and  struck  him  with  a  clenched  hand. 
The  angered  bailiff  raised  the  revolver  and 
pointed  it  toward  the  breast  of  his  assailant,  the 
glance  of  their  eyes  meeting  at  the  same  instant. 

There  is  power  in  a  resolute  eye  that  is  felt 
alike  by  the  dolt  and  by  the  philosopher.  Its 
comprehension  pertains  to  the  functions  of  a 
sixth  sense.  The  '  muzzle  of  the  weapon  was 
lowered. 

A  temporary  adjournment  of  the  Court  and 
an  investigation  made  in  Chambers,  resulted  in 
a  fine  imposed  upon  Chance  Neely.  Abel 
Hyman  was  censured  and  the  revolver  of  his 
client  retained  by  the  Court. 

"  Should  this  occur  again,  by  word  or  by 
deed/'  said  Abel  Hyman  to  Chance  Neely,  just 


SEEALTHA.  353 

before  re-entering  the  court-room,  "  you  will 
find  a  bullet  or  a  knife  in  your  body." 

The  detective  slunk  away  and  stood  behind 
the  book-case,  against  which  he  had  pushed 
Seraltha,  until  proceedings  were  resumed  in  the 
court-room. 

The  plaintiff's  side  of  the  case  was  soon 
presented:  The  marriage  contract,  accepted  in 
evidence;  the  letter  addressing  Seraltha  as 
"My  dear  wife";  proof  of  her  residence  with 
and  maintenance  by  the  defendant  for  three 
years,  and  of  her  declaration  to  the  Court  charg 
ing  cruelty  by  the  defendant's  refusal  to  ac 
knowledge  her  publicly  as  his  wife,  thus  expos 
ing  her  to  contumely.  Still,  the  day  was  con 
sumed  and  the  Court  adjourned. 

Soon  after  the  opening  of  the  Court  upon  the 
third  day  of  the  trial,  a  man  with  a  studious 
face  occupied  the  witness  seat.  A  bailiff  had 
placed  a  table  before  him,  and  his  long,  thin 
fingers  were  adjusting  a  microscope.  The  attor 
neys  for  the  defense  gathered  before  the  table, 
showing  deep  interest  in  his  proceedings,  and 


354  SERALTHA. 

the  large  audience  arose  and  stood  straining  to 
comprehend  the  purpose  of  the  man  with  the 
microscope. 

Sitting  at  another  table  near  by,  Chalmer 
Grose  wrote  upon  a  sheet  of  legal  cap,  similar 
to  that  upon  which  the  marriage  contract  was 
written,  and  upon  note  paper  like  that  of 
the  letter  bearing  the  greeting,  "  My  dear  wife." 

Seraltha  had  become  much  agitated  after 
reading  a  morning  paper,  in  which  an  imagina 
tive  reporter  filled  two  columns  in  description 
of  the  episode  of  the  revolver.  She  sat  among 
her  lawyers — near  Abel  Hyman — at  the  coun 
sel's  table.  The  table  upon  which  the  micro 
scope  rested  was  only  a  few  steps  from  her,  and 
a  few  other  steps  would  reach  Chalmer  Grose. 
Chance  Neely  sat  beyond  him  on  a  heavy  arm 
chair,  tilted  back  against  the  railing.  The  heels 
of  his  boots  were  caught  securely  among  the 
rounds  of  his  chair;  the  position  bringing  his 
eyes  nearly  to  a  level  with  his  stooping  shoul 
ders. 

A  bailiff  compelled  the  audience  to  be  seated; 


SEKALTHA.  355 

yet,  here  and  there,  faces  stood  out  in  relief, 
which  reflected  the  mystery  that  burdened  the 
air  of  the  room. 

The  microscopist  adjusted  the  instrument, 
and  established  his  competency  as  an  expert 
witness.  He  was  then  given  the  marriage  con 
tract,  which,  with  the  microscope,  he  scanned 
letter  by  letter  and  line  by  line.  The  letter 
greeting  the  plaintiff,  "  My  dear  wife,"  received 
the  same  careful  scrutiny. 

"  Were  both  written  by  the  same  hand?  "  asked 
the  lawyer  who  had  questioned  him  before. 

The  witness  answered:  "The  lines  of  one 
show  vacillation,  as  if  the  hand  that  wrote  was 
tremulous  with  emotion.  It  is  the  marriage 
contract." 

A  moan  broke  upon  the  stillness  of  the  court 
room.  Seraltha  sprang  from  her  seat,  and, 
grasping  the  shoulder  of  Abel  Hyman,  looked 
around  upon  the  audience.  A  forgotten  voice 
came  back  to  her  memory.  She  exclaimed, 
with  bated  breath : 

"  The  moaning  of  the  sleeping-car — Herm  ina !" 


356  SERALTHA. 

Far  to  the  rear  she  saw  a  veil  fall  over  a  pallid 
face.  The  form  below  it  trembled. 

The  voice  had  touched  another  ear  with 
memories,  and  another  eye  saw  the  pallid  face 
before  the  veil  fell.  While  the  microscopist 
continued  his  examination  Chalmer  Grose 
hazily  wrote  a  note,  which  by  his  direction 
Chance  Neely  gave  to  the  woman  who  had 
moaned.  Hermina  read  the  note  and  went 
hurriedly  out  of  the  court-room. 

Juan  Bermuda  had  throttled  only  one  of  her 
masters. 

The  microscopist  decided  that  both  documents 
had  been  written  by  the  same  hand.  He  then 
placed  beneath  his  instrument  the  writing  that 
Chalmer  Grose  had  done  on  the  sheet  of  legal 
cap;  it  was  a  copy  of  the  marriage  contract, 
except  the  signature  of  Seraltha  Ames.  He 
then  inspected  the  writing  of  Chalmer  Grose 
upon  the  note-paper,  which  was  a  copy  of  the 
letter  greeting  Seraltha  as  "  My  dear  wife." 

After  a  careful  comparison  of  the  four  papers, 
the  witness  voluntarily  asserted: 


BERALTHA.  357 

'The  documents  in  evidence  indicate  forg 
ery!" 

"  Forgery!  "  cried  Seraltha. 

She  sprang  from  her  seat,  and,  escaping 
Abel  Hyman's  effort  to  intercept  her,  ap 
proached  the  table  of  the  microscopist,  repeat 
ing  the  word  in  mingled  inquiry  and  excl'  -na 
tion.  She  seized  the  marriage  contract.  Hasten 
ing  with  it  to  Chalmer  Grose,  she  held  it  before 
him  and  demanded  a  denial  from  him  of  the 
assertion  made  by  the  witness.  Chalmer  Grose 
looked  into  her  face  and  saw  her  sight  wander 
ing  over  his  person  in  violet  flashes.  There 
were  other  revolvers  in  the  chiffonier  besides 
the  one  of  the  pearl  handle.  He  arose  and  drew 
away  from  her.  Chance  Neely  hastened  to  place 
himself  in  front  to  protect  him,  at  the  same 
time  advancing  toward  Seraltha  with  an  evident 
intention  to  put  his  hands  upon  her.  A  knife 
blade  glittered  before  his  eyes,  long  and  keen- 
edged.  His  arms  remained  rigidly  extended  as 
his  eyes  followed  the  movement  of  the  blade 
upward.  Then  he  dropped  heavily  to  the  floor. 


358  SEBALTHA. 

From  whence  the  knife  was  drawn,  or  where 
it  was  replaced  the  instant  that  he  fell,  Chance 
Neely  did  not  know,  but  he  saw  the  gleaming 
eyes  of  Abel  Hyman  looking  down  upon  him, 
and  he  trembled  with  fear.  The  Judge  saw  the 
weapon  drawn,  and  moved  from  his  bench 
toward  the  dramatic  scene.  The  bailiff  saw  it 
at  the  poise,  and,  keeping  his  position,  turned 
.ence,  where  men  were  rising  to 
'omen  covering  their  faces.  Chal- 
mer  Grose  saw  every  movement  of  the  weapon. 
He  fled  beyond  the  railing  and  stood  among  the 
audience. 

A  fine  may  not  be  a  stigma.  Contempt  of 
Court  is  less  than  misdemeanor,  if  barren  of 
intention  against  the  dignity  of  the  Court. 

CJ  O  «/ 

The  Judge  had  returned  to  his  bench,  and  the 
others  to  their  respective  places.  One  hundred 
dollars  was  the  judgment  rendered  against  Abel 
Hyman  for  drawing  a  weapon  during  a  session 
of  the  Court.  He  paid  the  fine. 

"  And  the  possession  of  your  weapon  by  me 


SERALTHA.  359 

until  the  termination  of  this  trial,"  the  Judge 
afterward  added  to  his  sentence. 

Abel  Hyman  laid  it  upon  the  desk  before  the 
Judge. 

"  Allow  me  the  sheath  in  which  to  keep  it 
safely/'  the  Judge  requested,  after  a  glance  at 
the  naked  blade. 

"  The  sheath  is  a  fixture  in  my  waistcoat," 
responded  Abel  Hyman. 

Seraltha  surrendered  the  marriage  contract 
with  much  reluctance,  and  only  upon  the  earn 
est  persuasion  of  Abel  Hyman,  who  returned  it 
to  the  microscopist.  Advantages  were  equalized 
between  the  plaintiff  and  defendant  by  the  recent 
incidents.  The  eagerness  of  the  microscopist  in 
testifying  betrayed  a  prejudice  that  might  have 
been  strengthened  by  the  persuasive  color  of  gold. 
Nevertheless,  he  gave  cogent  reasons  in  detail 
that  supported  his  decision.  Others,  expert  in 
his  profession,  testified  in  corroboration  of  him, 
consuming  the  time  of  the  Court  until  the 
adjournment  hour.  Cross-examination  had 
failed  to  weaken  their  position. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

table  used  by  the  microscopists  in 
their  investigations  still  stood  near  the 
witness-seat  when  proceedings  were  resumed 
upon  the  fourth  day.  A  lawyer  of  the  defense 
called  Chp^~~  ^  ^  the  seat  with  an 

and,  producing  a 
i  book,  lounged  against  the  table. 
He  testified  that,  in  the  service  of  Chalmer 
Grose  as  a  detective,  he  discovered  three  cards 
in  various  places  in  Seraltha's  chamber,  after 
her  desertion  of  the  rooms  in  the  Hotel  Haven- 
court.  The  examining  lawyer  for  the  defense 
took  these  cards  from  the  witness  and  offered 
them  in  evidence.  They  were  accepted  by  the 
Court.  The  lawyer,  by  skillful  questioning, 
caused  Chance  Neely  to  relate  that,  following 
the  clue  afforded  by  these  cards,  he  had  inter 
viewed  the  person  whose  name  was  written  upon 
them  at  his  place  of  business, "  The  Calaveras." 

(360) 


SERALTHA.  361 

During  this  interview,  the  witness  asserted,  he 
had  used  the  arts  of  his  profession  so  adroitly 
that  Munroe  Chase,  the  man  who  had  written 
upon  the  cards,  made  a  confession,  although 
very  reluctantly.  This  confession  included  an 
assertion  that  the  differing  dates  upon  the  cards 
corresponded  with  the  absence  of  Chalmer  Grose 
from  the  city  at  various  times;  during  which 
times  Monroe  Chase  had  visited  the  plaintiff  at 
her  rooms  by  her  appointment. 

Objection  to  this  testimony  being  made  by 
Abel  Hyman,  the  Judge  ordered  it  stricken  out, 
except  that  part  relating  to  the  discovery  of  the 
cards  and  the  employment  of  the  witness  as  a 
detective  in  the  interest  of  Chalmer  Grose. 
Chance  Neely,  then  being  excused  from  the  wit 
ness  seat,  betrayed  deep  chagrin,  for  his  memo 
randum  book  exhibited  hearsay  evidence  volu 
minously.  Nat  Rapps,  who  was  reporting  the 
case  of  "  Grose  versus  Grose  "  for  the  Investigator, 
added  to  his  discomfiture  by  saying  in  an  un 
dertone,  as  he  passed  the  reporters'  table,  "  The 
private  detective  is  a  foe  to  justice." 


362  SEKALTHA. 

"  Monroe  Chase  will  take  the  witness  stand," 
said  a  lawyer  of  the  defense.  No  one  respond 
ing,  the  lawyer  arose  and  looked  around.  He 
repeated  his  request  in  louder  tones.  Receiving 
no  response,  the  lawyer  turned  toward  Chance 
Neely  with  a  look  of  inquiry.  Chance  Neely 
sprang  to  his  feet  and  so  did  Chalmer  Grose. 
Hastily  approaching  each  other,  they  met  heside 
the  reporters'  table,  and  conversed  in  low 
tones.  Their  conversation  was  indistinct,  yet 
Nat  Rapps,  who  sat  near  them,  heard  the  words, 
"  Check  for  two  thousand,"  spoken  by  Chalmer 
Grose. 

Nat  Rapps  knew  the  banking  house  of  Chal 
mer  Grose.  His  astonished  associates  saw  him 
spring  from  his  chair  and  walk  rapidly  out  of 
the  court-room.  A  cab  conveyed  him  to  the 
banking  house.  After  conversing  a  moment 
with  the  cashier,  who  nodded  affirmatively  to 
his  inquiries,  he  returned  to  the  cab  and  was 
driven  with  much  speed  to  "The  Calaveras." 
There  he  made  inquiries  for  the  proprietor.  A 
barkeeper  called  his  request  to  the  porter  of  the 


SERALTHA.  363 

basement  rooms,  and  immediately  thereafter  a 
man  ascended  the  stairway  who  was  recognized 
by  Nat  Rapps  as  a  successful  ward  politician. 
In  answer  to  a  question  made  by  the  reporter, 
he  said: 

"  I  am  the  proprietor." 

"  Since  when?  "  inquired  Nat  Rapps. 

"  Since  last  night,  at  ten  o'clock." 

"  Bought  out  the  other  folks?  " 

"  Bought  out  the  other  man.  No  folks  in  the 
transaction." 

"  Monroe  Chase  and  Company.  Who  were 
the  Company?" 

"  Myths,"  said  the  politician. 

"  A  widow,  and  a  private  detective,"  asserted 
Nat  Rapps. 

" Nonsense!  I've  been  a  customer  of  this 
place  three  years,  and  I  never  saw  or  heard  of 
anyone  having  a  say  here,  except  Monroe  Chase, 
and  there  is  no  partnership  agreement  on  record. 
I  am  all  right,  in  any  event.  Possession  covers 
the  right  of  ownership  and  sale  in  this  glorious 
climate." 


364  SEEALTHA. 

"  Pay  him  in  coin?  " 

"  Coin  in  hand.     Five  thousand  dollars." 

"Last  night?" 

"  Last  night,  at  ten  o'clock." 

"You  were  in  a  basement  room  when  the 
money  was  paid,  and  Monroe  Chase  put  it  into 
a  strong  leather  satchel,"  asserted  Nat  Rapps. 

The  ward  politician  looked  at  him  in  aston 
ishment.  Before  he  recovered,  Nat  Rapps  had 
entered  the  cab  and  was  speeding  toward  the 
court-house.  Upon  his  way  there  he  met  Chance 
Neely,  also  in  a  cab,  who  visited  "  The  Calave- 
ras  "  and  afterward  the  banking  house  of  Chal- 
mer  Grose.  Nat  Rapps  occupied  his  seat  at  the 
reporters'  table  when  Chance  Neely  returned 
and  again  conversed  with  Chalmer  Grose. 

The  strong  leather  satchel  held  seven  thou 
sand  dollars  in  gold,  and  at  that  hour  Monroe 
Chase  was  far  away  from  the  temptations  of 
perjury. 

The  information  gained  by  Chance  Neely 
during  his  absence  from  the  court-room  re 
mained  a  secret,  imparted  by  him  to  none, 


SERALTHA.  365 

except  Chalmer  Grose  and  his  lawyers.  Never 
theless,  upon  the  following  morning  the  Investi 
gator  published  an  account  of  the  flight  of  Mon 
roe  Chase,  of  the  amount  of  money  in  his  pos 
session  and  the  sources  from  which  he  had  ob 
tained  it. 

The  defense,  having  no  other  witnesses  to  tes 
tify  against  Seraltha's  character,  now  rested  their 
case.  Evidence  for  the  plaintiff,  in  rebuttal, 
failed  to  overthrow  the  position  of  the  micro- 
scopists,  the  only  evidence  favoring  her  being 
given  by  herself,  and  this  related  to  the  espousal 
scene  at  the  mahogany  table  in  the  parlor  of 
the  house  on  Pine  street;  to  all  of  which  Chal 
mer  Grose  testified  in  denial. 

Arguments  of  opposing  counsel  occupied  the 
time  of  two  days,  during  which  Chalmer  Grose 
did  not  appear  in  the  court-room.  Feeling 
assured  of  victory,  because  of  the  decision  of 
the  microscopists  that  the  marriage  contract 
and  the  letter  were  forgeries,  and  also  encour 
aged  by  the  predictions  of  his  counsel,  he  put 


366  SEBALTHA. 

aside   thoughts   of   the    unpleasant   affair   and 
resumed  his  usual  ways. 

When  the  arguments  were  concluded,  the 
Judge  announced  that  a  decision  would  be  ren 
dered  the  following  week.  As  he  did  not  specify 
a  date,  Chance  Neely  was  continued  in  the  ser 
vice  of  Chalmer  Grose.  He  was  instructed  to 
attend  the  court  daily,  and  immediately  upon  a 
decision  being  rendered  by  the  Judge  to  bear 
its  import  to  his  employer. 

During  an  afternoon  of  the  following  week, 
and  in  the  interval  between  cases  of  less  impor 
tance,  the  Judge  summoned  the  lawyers  inter 
ested  in  the  case  of  "  Grose  versus  Grose,"  and 
read  his  decision.  Chance  Neely,  who  sat  among 
the  audience,  arose  when  the  Judge  ceased  read 
ing  and  walked  slowly  out  at  the  door  as  if  op 
pressed  by  a  heavy  burden.  He  stopped,  when 
outside,  and  looked  up  and  down  the  street  like 
one  who  had  lost  his  bearing.  He  held  his 
slouch  hat  under  his  right  arm  while  sitting  in 
the  court-room,  and  he  still  kept  it  there  when 
standing  before  the  door.  The  hat  remained 


SEBALTHA.  367 

under  his  arm,  unnoticed  by  him,  when  he 
afterward  turned  and  walked  toward  the  Hotel 
Havencourt. 

He  recovered  his  self-possession  as  he  walked 
and  placed  his  hat  on  his  head;  but  his  move 
ments  still  suggested  the  pressure  of  a  burden. 
He  entered  the  hotel  and  went  directly  to  the 
parlor  of  Chalmer  Grose.  Arriving  at  the  door, 
he  raised  his  hand  to  rap.  The  sound  of  laugh 
ter  came  faintly  to  his  ears  from  within;  it  was 
the  voice  of  a  woman.  Chance  Neely  lowered 
his  hand  and  stood  in  waiting.  The  laughter 
became  hilarious.  He  tore  a  leaf  from  his  mem 
orandum  book  and,  placing  it  against  the  wall, 
wrote  upon  it.  The  time  was  four  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon. 

Chalmer  Grose  sat  within  the  parlor,  before  a 
table  profusely  covered  with  the  residue  of  a 
savory  dinner.  A  champagne  bottle  stood 
within  his  reach,  and  from  it  he  had  poured 
the  last  of  the  contents  into  two  wine  goblets. 
While  the  wine  sparkled,  he  set  a  goblet  before 
a  woman  who  sat  opposite  to  him.  He  raised 


368  SERALTHA. 

the  other  goblet  to  his  lips,  and,  after  sipping 
the  wine,  replaced  it  upon  the  table,  making 
facetious  mention,  as  he  did  so,  of  a  divorce 
case  which  he  termed  "  Seraltha  versus  Grose." 
The  woman  responded  with  the  laughter  that 
had  stayed  the  hand  of  Chance  Neely.  Flushes 
of  crimson  overspread  her  brunette  cheeks, 
brought  there  by  the  wine,  and  an  ecstasy  of 
mirth  flashed  in  her  lustrous  dark  eyes.  She 
had  entered  the  rooms  an  hour  before,  by  way 
of  the  exclusive  corridor.  Passing  through  the 
parlor  and  chamber  to  the  dressing-room — once 
Seraltha's — she  removed  her  cloak  and  hat. 
She  then  went  to  the  parlor  of  Chalmer  Grose 
and  dined  with  him. 

Chance  Neely  completed  his  writing,  and, 
returning  to  the  door,  he  rapped.  The  laughter 
of  the  woman  had  then  ceased,  and  before  Chal 
mer  Grose  opened  the  door  in  response  to  the 
summons,  she  hastened  to  the  dressing-room, 
where  she  had  put  aside  her  hat  and  cloak. 
She  sat  upon  a  chair  before  an  easel-mirror  and 
waited. 


SERALTHA.  369 

When  the  door  was  opened,  Chalmer  Grose 
took  the  book-leaf  which  Chance  Neely  handed 
him  and  read  the  writing  upon  it.  As  he  read, 
anger  congested  his  cheeks  and  his  face  drew 
into  wrinkles.  He  attempted  to  speak,  but  the 
words  died  in  his  throat.  Clutching  the  mes 
sage  in  his  left  hand,  he  approached  the  dining 
table,  staggering  as  he  walked.  He  drank  the 
wine  remaining  in  his  goblet  in  a  single  gulp. 
Hastening  to  his  chamber  with  swerving  foot 
steps,  he  sank  upon  his  bed.  His  right  hand 
seized  the  garments  over  his  heart.  A  shiver 
crept  over  his  form  from  head  to  feet,  and  when 
it  ceased  the  scarlet  slowly  faded  from  his  cheeks. 
Death  covered  his  face  with  the  hue  of  ashes. 

The  woman,  who  had  waited  beside  the  easel- 
mirror,  arose  and  went  toward  the  silent  parlor 
that  she  had  left.  The  lowering  sun  threw  yel 
low  rays  against  the  upper  windows  of  the  house 
across  the  street,  that  drew  tints  from  the  blue 
sky  above  and  reflected  a  sheen  of  emerald  over 
the  form  of  Chalmer  Grose.  A  dusky  pallor 
drove  the  crimson  from  the  cheeks  of  the  woman 


370  SEBALTHA. 

when  she  entered  his  chamber  and  looked  upon 
his  face.  With  eyes  dilated  hy  fear  she  sought 
her  hat  and  cloak,  and  stealthily  left  the  hotel. 

Chance  Neely  had  expected  a  calamity  when 
Chalmer  Grose  staggered  to  his  chamber,  and 
ran  to  summon  a  physician.  When  the  phy 
sician  arrived  he  raised  the  left  hand  of  the 
form  before  him.  The  relaxing  fingers  dropped 
a  paper  from  their  grasp.  He  gently  lowered  the 
hand  to  the  bed,  and,  smoothing  the  crumpled 
paper,  held  it  toward  the  light  and  read: 

"  Decree  of  divorce  granted,  and  summons 
issued  for  defendant  to  appear  in  Court  and 
schedule  property.  The  Judge  declares  that  the 
preponderance  of  evidence  is  on  the  side  of  the 
plaintiff,  he  having  decided  a  question  of  ver 
acity  in  her  favor  regarding  the  signing  of  the 
marriage  contract  in  the  house  on  Pine  street." 

After  imparting  this  information  the  writer 
became  sympathetic,  for  he  added: 

"The  higher  Court  may  reverse  this  decision. 
Of  course,  you  will  appeal  the  case." 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

^BOUT  twelve  o'clock  of  a  stormy  night, 
a  month  after  the  death  of  Chalmer 
Grose,  Juan  Bermuda  entered  the  grounds  of 
the  house  on  Pine  street  by  way  of  the  steep 
driveway,  and  stood  among  the  shrubbery. 
Awhile  he  listened  intently,  then  stealthily 
moved  along  the  lawn  to  a  cypress  that  swayed 
its  dark  boughs  over  a  veranda  of  the  house. 

Standing  close  to  the  tree,  he  drew  a  lariat  of 
black  horse-hair  from  an  inner  pocket  of  his 
coat  and  wound  it  into  a  coil.  Again  he  lis 
tened,  and  swung  the  lariat  to  and  fro.  The 
gurgling  of  water  in  the  rain-spouts  of  the 
veranda,  the  moaning  of  wind  among  the  trees 
and  shrubs,  and  hoarse  signals  of  a  fog-horn 
at  the  distant  Heads,  were  all  the  sounds  he 
heard. 

Swinging  the  lariat  about  his  head,  he  threw 
it  upward  among  the  branches.  Drops  of  water 

(371) 


372  SEKALTHA. 

splashed  upon  his  face  from  the  shaken  foliage. 
Grasping  the  double  line,  now  hanging  from 
above,  he  ascended  and  stepped  upon  the  roof 
of  the  veranda.  He  then  drew  his  lariat  from 
the  tree,  and,  recoiling  it,  turned  toward  a 
dormer-window  in  the  roof.  Raising  the  lower 
sash,  he  crept  inside  and  closed  the  curtain. 

He  had  scarcely  stepped  away  from  the  win 
dow  when  a  door  of  the  room  opened.  Lethe 
St.  Pier  entered  bearing  a  lighted  oil  lamp,  like 
that  in  the  dark  room  by  the  furnace.  She 
looked  at  him  as  at  one  not  wholly  unexpected, 
and  asked  him  to  be  seated.  Seating  herself 
near  him,  still  holding  the  lamp,  she  gently 
chided  him  for  venturing  into  the  city.  Glances 
of  affection  rewarded  Lethe's  kind  words. 

Lethe  told  Juan  Bermuda  of  the  searches 
made  for  him  throughout  the  city  and  in  the 
house  in  which  they  were.  She  then  urged  him 
to  return  to  his  hiding-place  without  delay .  He 
shook  his  head  and  looked  about  him,  upon  the 
comforts  of  his  former  lodging — a  soft,  snowy 
bed,  a  hammock  slung  to  view  the  distant 


SEKALTHA.  373 

highlands  through  open  windows,  and  a  broad 
arm-chair  that  invited  to  luxurious  repose. 
Nothing  was  missing  from  his  room — all  that 
he  had  before  enjoyed  was  there. 

Lethe  saw  his  eyes  lingering  here  and  there 
as  he  looked  about,  and,  relenting  in  her  pur 
pose  to  urge  him  away,  lighted  the  gas  and  bade 
him  remain  until  the  storm  was  over.  He  went 
to  her  side  and  tried  to  speak  through  the  folds 
of  his  scarf.  Divining  his  meaning,  she  re 
turned  to  her  seat  and  told  him  of  Seraltha; 
of  her  successful  divorce;  of  the  incidents  con 
nected  with  it,  and  lastly  told  him  of  the  death 
of  Chalmer  Grose. 

While  Lethe  was  speaking  of  Chalmer  Grose, 
Juan  Bermuda  looked  at  her  as  a  dead  man 
might,  with  wide  opened  eyes.  His  prey  was 
gone;  his  only  aim  in  life  after  his  return  to 
the  mine  of  which  he  had  been  robbed,  was  lost. 
Without  a  farewell  to  her,  he  opened  the  window 
and  stepped  out  upon  the  roof.  In  a  moment  he 
again  stood  by  the  cypress,  carefully  coiling 
his  lariat  as  he  drew  it  down  from  the  boughs 


374  SEEALTHA. 

above  him.  He  did  not  skulk,  as  he  had  done 
when  he  approached  the  house,  but  walked 
boldly  along  the  lawn  and  down  the  granite 
stair-way  to  the  side-walk  of  Pine  street.  He 
walked  two  blocks  toward  the  cemeteries;  then, 
as  if  impelled  by  a  sudden  thought,  turned 
and  walked  rapidly  back,  past  the  stairway  to  a 
place  in  the  street  beyond,  where  a  row  of  elm 
trees  shaded  the  walk.  He  looked  up  into  the 
first  tree  as  he  came  beneath  it,  and  walking 
around  it  drew  forth  his  lariat.  Sleeping  birds, 
startled  by  his  footfalls  plashing  in  pools  of 
water,  flew  from  the  tree,  plunging  noisily  into 
the  nearest  tree  beyond.  He  turned  away.  As 
he  walked  along  the  pavement  of  the  street  the 
frightened  birds  flew  before  him  from  tree  to 
tree. 

Avoiding  the  sidewalks,  Juan  Bermuda  went 
on  until  he  came  before  the  Hotel  Havencourt. 
Here  he  halted  and  stood  like  a  statue  in  the 
middle  of  the  street,  gazing  into  the  entrance 
of  the  hotel.  The  first  stroke  of  the  hour  from 
a  distant  bell  came  faintly  to  him  through  the 


SERALTHA.  375 

storm.  The  swerving  blasts  caught  the  second 
and  third  strokes,  and  bore  them  clangorously 
across  the  city.  As  if  to  move  in  their  com 
pany,  Juan  Bermuda  sprang  forward  and  ran 
toward  the  bay. 

A  misty  darkness  covered  the  bay  and  gloomed 
the  shore,  hiding  the  wharf  lights  at  times  and 
anon  bearing  their  broken  rays  in  fitful  flashes 
over  the  piers,  or  downward  upon  dark  waves 
sweeping  heavily  along  the  front.  Beaching  the 
wharf,  and  turning  from  the  street,  he  walked 
out  upon  a  pier  that  stretched  far  into  the  bay. 
He  halted  beside  a  wharf  light  that  cast  a  sheen 
upon  the  water;  it  seemed  to  be  the  last  one  on 
the  pier.  Looking  out  over  the  water  below 
him,  he  saw  his  shadow  dancing  upon  the 
waves,  which,  turned  back  by  the  heavier  swells 
at  the  limit  of  the  pier,  noisily  lapped  the  piling. 

Drawing  away,  he  crossed  the  pier  and  looked 
into  the  darkness  beyond  its  edge.  A  fishing 
tartan,  moored  to  the  piling  below,  swayed  its 
mast  toward  him  from  the  gloom.  He  stepped 
back  from  the  approaching  mast,  and,  looking 


376  SEBALTHA. 

out  toward  the  bay,  saw  the  dim  rays  of  another 
wharf  light  through  a  rift  in  the  storm-mist; 
an  instant,  only,  then  it  was  hidden.  As  the 
light  flashed  again  he  followed  the  rays,  and, 
with  halts  and  groping,  soon  stood  beneath  it — 
the  signal  light  on  the  end  of  the  pier.  He 
looked  outward  into  the  dense  darkness  over 
the  bay;  then  behind  him,  whence  he  had  come. 
No  sound  came  to  his  ears,  except  of  the  wind, 
the  falling  rain,  and  the  waves  splashing  against 
the  piling.  He  took  off  his  hat  and  laid  it 
down;  a  gust  of  wind  swept  it  away;  he  gave  it 
no  heed.  Stooping,  he  gazed  downward. 

If  he  thought  of  ending  his  now  aimless  life, 
this  was  an  ample  place.  A  million  men  might 
lie  beneath  the  dark  waves  and  not  a  form  be 
seen  along  their  deepest  troughs. 

He  stooped  lower.  Touching  his  finger-tips 
upon  the  brink,  he  swayed  backward,  then 
forward;  again,  to  and  fro,  with  increasing 
energy;  again  backward:  a  wrecker  shot  out 
from  the  darkness  before  him,  with  stacks 
belching  sparks  and  valves  quivering  from 


SERALTHA.  377 

escaping  steam.  As  the  wrecker  rounded  to 
beside  the  pier,  Juan  Bermuda  hid  himself 
from  the  sight  of  those  on  board.  Hoarse  com 
mands,  the  rustle  of  ropes  and  the  clangor  of 
iron  against  iron,  came  to  his  ears  from  the  ves 
sel;  then  all  was  in  silence,  as  deep  as  the  dark 
ness  on  bay  and  shore. 

Forty-three  hours  the  wrecker's  crew  had 
braved  the  storm  to  give  aid  to  disabled  ships. 
Exhausted,  the  deckmen  hastened  to  their 
berths,  and  in  a  moment  slept;  the  pilot  lay 
behind  his  wheel;  the  stoker  threw  the  furnace 
doors  wide  open  and  rested  beside  the  bunkers. 

Juan  Bermuda  crept  to  the  edge  of  the  pier 
and  looked  within  the  wrecker.  It  rose  toward 
him  upon  a  swell.  The  boat-lights  showed  him 
the  pilot,  asleep.  The  wrecker  sank  behind  the 
wave.  Through  a  hatchway  he  saw  the  opened 
furnace  doors  and  the  fire  shining  red  beyond 
them.  When  the  wrecker  rose  again  he  leaped 
upon  the  deck  and  looked  around  him.  The 
pilot  slept.  He  hastened  down  the  iron  stairs 
of  the  furnace-room  and  stood  before  the  open 


378  SEEALTHA. 

furnace  doors.  Stooping,  he  looked  at  the  fire 
within,  and  then  about  the  room.  The  stoker 
lay  asleep  on  the  floor — a  white  man  grimed 
with  coal  dust;  naked  to  his  waist. 

Juan  Bermuda  gazed  into  the  furnace.  Slen 
der  tongues  of  red  and  white  flame  shot  upward 
from  the  bed  of  burning  coal  like  fiery  grasses, 
consuming  as  they  grew.  He  approached  nearer, 
and,  taking  the  battered  bullet  from  his  pocket, 
held  it  close  to  the  furnace  light — looking  upon 
it  as  he  had  done  when  holding  it  toward  the 
puffing  engine  that  drew  ore  from  the  depths  of 
his  mine  for  Chalmer  Grose.  Rage  shook  his 
frame;  his  hand  closed  tightly  upon  the  bullet; 
blood  dripped  down,  hissing  against  the  furnace 
front.  He  threw  the  bullet  upon  the  bed  of  fire. 
It  slowly  spread  and  sank  among  the  roots  of 
the  fiery  grasses. 

From  an  outside  pocket  he  drew  a  steel  table 
knife,  encased  in  a  leather  sheath,  and  threw 
it  upon  the  fire.  The  sheath  rolled  open  like 
a  scroll,  and  the  blade  became  violet,  then  crim 
son,  then  white. 


SEEALTHA.  379 

Drawing  the  lariat  from  his  pocket,  he  pushed 
the  loop  of  the  noose  beyond  the  highest  cone. 
A  deeper  yellow  gleamed  in  his  eyes.  He 
pushed  the  loop  beyond  another  cone,  and  the 
yellow  deepened.  He  pushed  the  loop  beyond 
the  lowest  cone,  then  threw  the  lariat  upon  the 
fire  beside  the  knife.  It  writhed  and  twisted 
like  a  thing  alive,  and  in  an  instant  lay  upon 
the  lurid  coals,  a  serpent  of  white  ashes. 

Taking  off  his  steaming  coat  and  his  long 
scarf,  he  rolled  them  into  a  bundle  upon  the 
iron  floor.  From  an  inner  garment  he  drew 
forth  an  object  that  glistened  with  the  blue  of 
steel  as  it  came  into  the  furnace  light — the  large 
revolver  of  the  chiffonier.  He  aimed  it  at  the 
ashen  serpent  coiled  upon  the  fire,  and  crept 
within  the  furnace. 

A  pistol-shot  rang  through  the  furnace  doors. 
The  stoker  sprang  to  his  feet,  and,  looking 
wildly  around,  saw  the  shadow  of  a  steaming 
face  against  the  bunkers.  Another  pistol  shot! 
It  drew  him  to  the  furnace.  Looking  within, 
he  saw  a  man  crouched  upon  the  burning  coals, 


380  SEEALTHA. 

aiming  a  revolver  at  a  coiled  target  in  the  crim 
son  fire.  The  stoker  sprang  upon  the  iron  stair 
way.  Another  shot !  With  hands  and  feet  he 
hastened  upward.  Another  shot !  The  stoker 
threw  himself  from  the  wrecker  to  the  pier. 
Another  pistol  shot!  Another!  Words  came 
through  the  furnace  door — "  0  Dios!"  The 
stoker  raised  his  hands  above  his  head,  and 
fled  along  the  pier  to  the  streets  beyond. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

the  death  of  Chalmer  Grose,  his 
heirs  came  forward  to  contest  the  claim 
of  Seraltha  Ames  Grose  in  his  estate,  taking 
the  ground  that  she  was  an  adventuress  and  an 
intriguante.  To  this  end  they  were  aided  by  a 
few  members  of  the  Press,  who,  for  their 
purposes,  used  the  unfavorable  circumstances 
against  her  that  the  trial  had  developed. 

After  the  granting  of  her  decree  of  divorce, 
Seraltha  lived  in  retirement  at  her  hotel.  An 
evening  paper  gave  the  first  notice  of  the  appeal 
of  "  Grose  versus  Grose  "  as  a  simple  matter  of 
news.  The  ensuing  morning  papers  contained 
the  same  information,  and  some  added  clear 
hints  that  Seraltha  was  an  adventuress.  The 
effect  of  these  charges  soon  became  manifested. 
She  was  serene  when  she  began  reading,  and 
her  morning  attire  was  tasteful  and  appropriate; 
but  when  she  had  finished,  her  demeanor 

(381) 


382  SEKALTHA. 

changed  to  one  of  uncertainty,  and  afterward  to 
a  positive  frenzy. 

She  frantically  removed  her  morning  gown, 
throwing  it  on  the  floor,  and  put  on  the  surah- 
silk.  When  ready  to  go  upon  the  street  she  took 
the  newspapers  and  held  them  in  a  crumpled  roll 
under  her  arm.  Her  manner,  while  passing  out 
of  the  hotel,  showed  indecision.  She  suddenly 
halted  and  returned  to  her  rooms,  walking 
slowly  as  if  in  thought.  Upon  arrival  there  she 
opened  a  trunk  and  took  from  it  the  pearl- 
handled  revolver,  which  she  placed  in  the 
satchel  that  hung  by  her  side.  After  the  decree 
of  divorce  had  been  granted  the  Judge  restored 
the  weapon  to  her.  It  was  loaded.  Abel 
Hyman  advised  her  to  carry  it  when  she  might 
go  in  public  places.  He  also  expressed  admira 
tion  for  her  courage  in  the  attempted  use  of  it 
when  Chance  Neely  assaulted  her. 

As  Seraltha  again  left  her  rooms  a  smile 
lighted  her  face,  of  a  deeper  meaning  than  that 
which  overspread  it  when  she  removed  the 
weapon  from  the  chiffonier  in  the  house  on 


SERALTHA.  383 

Pine  street.  Although  she  walked  rapidly,  she 
closely  observed  the  people  whom  she  met. 
Three  squares  from  the  hotel,  her  attention 
became  fixed  upon  a  man  who  stood  before  a 
shop  window  a  few  doors  beyond  her,  and  who 
appeared  to  be  interested  in  the  display  within. 
She  halted,  and,  after  intently  observing  him, 
withdrew  into  a  doorway,  from  which  she  peered 
out  at  the  man  before  the  window,  who  soon  left 
it  and  approached  her.  Withdrawing  into  the 
doorway,  she  opened  her  satchel  and  seized  the 
revolver.  While  awaiting  his  approach  her  eyes 
glistened  with  a  purple  light. 

Although  she  had  waited  long  enough,  the 
man  did  not  pass  by.  She  stepped  to  the  side- 
wralk  and  eagerly  sought  him.  He  had  entered 
an  intervening  shop.  He  wore  a  slouch  hat, 
and  as  he  had  stood  stoopingly  at  the  window, 
she  thought  he  was  Chance  Neely. 

Seraltha  was  greatly  excited  as  she  continued 
her  journey  to  the  house  on  Pine  street.  Imme 
diately  after  being  admitted  by  Lethe  St.  Pier, 
she  began  reviling  the  man  who  sat  by  the  rail- 


384: 


SEBALTHA. 


ing  during  the  trial  of  "Grose  versus  Grose." 
At  times  she  would  cease  speaking,  and  read 
the  papers  which  alluded  to  her  as  an  adven 
turess.  Afterward  she  would  assert  that  the 
man  with  the  stooping  shoulders  had  caused 
the  publication,  and  that  he  was  now  in  search 
of  her  to  injure  or  kill  her. 

"  For,"  she  said  to  Lethe,  in  an  interval  of 
her  reading,  "he  stood  by  the  window  and 
waited  for  me  with  weapons,  but  ran  away  when 
I  grasped  the  revolver  with  which  to  protect 
myself." 

Her  conduct  was  beyond  Lethe's  understand 
ing.  After  neatly  arranging  the  coils  of  Seral- 
tha's  hair,  and  chiding  her  for  wearing  the  old 
gown  of  surah-silk,  Lethe  prevailed  upon  her  to 
visit  Abel  Hyman  and  consult  him  regarding 
the  publications.  Ordering  a  carriage,  Seraltha 
drove  away  under  this  delusion  of  persecution. 

When  she  arrived  at  his  office,  Abel  Hyman 
was  seated  at  his  desk  reading  the  stories  that 
liad  so  greatly  excited  her.  His  indignation 
equalled  her  distraction,  and  increased  as  she 


SERALTHA.  385 

placed  a  crumpled  roll  of  newspapers  upon  his 
desk  and  knelt  by  his  side,  resting  her  hands 
upon  his  knee,  and  burying  her  face  within 
them. 

"All  who  allowed  these  slanders  to  be  printed," 
he  exclaimed,  as  he  looked  down  upon  her, 
"  should  be  made  to  face  a  pistol  ten  paces 
away!  The  Creator  of  honor  would  so  aim  the 
weapon  that  each  cowardly  traducer  would  fall." 

He  bent  forward  and  placed  his  hand  upon 
Seraltha's  shoulder.  She  had  become  calm 
when  she  entered  his  presence,  and  an  intuitive 
reliance  upon  his  ability  to  protect  her  from 
injustice  had  caused  her  to  kneel  by  his  side. 
His  passionate  speech  restored  her  delusion. 
She  raised  her  head,  and  a  shade  of  vindictive- 
ness  overspread  her  face  as  her  sight  met  his 
angry  glances.  Unclasping  her  satchel,  she 
grasped  the  revolver  and  held  it  toward  him. 

"Take  it!"  she  exclaimed.  "He  is  on  the 
street,  watching  and  waiting  for  me.  He  fol 
lows  me  whenever  I  go  from  my  rooms.  Take 
it!  You  have  a  knife.  Use  both!  " 


386  SERALTHA. 

The  weapon,  as  she  held  it  toward  him, 
pointed  at  his  breast.  The  hammer  was  still 
drawn,  yet  Abel  Hyman  took  it  from  her  with 
out  evidence  of  emotion,  except  an  increasing 
anger.  He  lowered  the  hammer,  and,  placing 
the  weapon  in  his  pocket,  arose  and  assisted 
Seraltha  to  her  feet. 

"  Who  is  'he?'  What  is  the  name  of  the 
man  who  waits  and  watches  for  you,  and  follows 
you  on  the  street?  "  he  demanded,  still  holding 
her  hand,  which  he  had  taken  when  assisting 
her  to  arise. 

"The  man  with  the  thievish  face.  Come!  I 
will  find  him  for  you." 

Her  excitement  increased,  and  she  moved 
toward  the  door.  He  resisted  her  gently,  plac 
ing  his  arm  around  her  waist. 

"  Many  men  have  thievish  faces,"  he  re 
sponded.  "  Tell  me  his  name.  I  can  then  find 
him  without  your  aid.  Do  not  search  for  him. 
That  is  for  me  to  do." 

She  did  not  move  to  oppose  his  request, 
but,  yielding  to  the  control  of  his  arm,  looked 


SERALTHA..  387 

downward  in  meditation.  For  a  moment  they 
stood  silent,  and  then  she  looked  into  his  eyes. 
The  look  was  of  trust.  The  lines  of  anger  dis.- 
appeared  from  his  face,  and  a  light  overspread 
it  that  was  apart  from  the  law  and  its  profession. 
His  head  bent  nearer  to  her  as  he  awaited  her 
reply.  She  had  heard  the  man's  name  in  the 
court-room,  but  her  recollection  of  it  failed. 

"  He  sat  by  the  railing,"  she  said,  "  and  gazed 
at  me  from  between  his  stooping  shoulders. 
When  I  was  alone  he  attacked  me.  He  dared 
not  put  his  hand  upon  me  when  you  came  to 
my  aid.  He  fell  to  the  floor  when  you  looked 
down  upon-him." 

Abel  Hyman  felt  the  touch  of  her  shoulder 
against  his  breast,  and  felt  a  gentle  pressure 
from  the  hand  that  rested  in  his.  He  knew 
whom  she  meant,  yet  the  light  in  his  face  re 
mained  unclouded. 

"  Chance  Neely!     Even  vipers  pursue  her! ' 

He  looked  upward,  as  if  listening.  Long  ago 
words  were  whispered  to  him:  "  Seraltha.  Love 
her  and — "  Obedience  to  the  completed  sen- 


388  SEKALTHA. 

tence  would  be  a  pledge  of  his  life  to  defend  the 
honor  of  the  woman  by  his  side;  to  put  her  in 
the  high  place  among  women  held  by  the  one 
upon  whose  lips  the  wish  died:  "  take  her  as 
your  wife."  *  *  * 

The  touch  of  her  shoulder  against  his  breast 
had  become  a  pressure.  A  hand  moved  slowly 
upward  along  his  arm  and  rested  upon  his 
shoulder.  Looking  downward,  into  an  upturned 
face,  he  saw  a  reflection  of  the  light  upon  his 
own  shining  in  a  smile.  A  steady  radiance 
poured  from  her  eyes. 

"  Seraltha,"  he  said,  "  the  Judge,  who  freed 
you  from  an  oppressor,  can  give  you  a  protector, 
who  will  be  to  you  a  husband  and  a  lover.  Go 
with  me  to  him,  and  become  the  wife  of  Abel 
Hyman." 

He  drew  her  closer  to  him,  and  yet  closer, 
until  she  heard  the  beating  of  his  heart.  When 
their  lips  met  she  clung  to  him. 

As  Seraltha  stood  in  the  court-room  by  the 
side  of  Abel  Hyman,  and  heard  the  words  that 
made  her  his  wife,  she  bowed  her  head,  and 
tears  brimmed  her  eyes. 


© 


IS  volume  is  to  be  followed  by 
other  novels  based  upon  catastro 
phes  in  society,  which,  by  reason  of 
the  peculiar  and  tragic  circumstances 
attending  their  development,  and  the 
social  eminence  of  the  parties  involved, 
have  aroused  the  deepest  attention  of 
the  country. 

Tie  Authors'  Association 


9082 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  AT  LOS  ANGELES 

THE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 
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